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The beautiful does well to hide the beast.
Nova Crimson was absolutely beautiful, and she knew it. Not only was she beautiful but she was smart, filthy rich, had a fabulous wardrobe, a great house, on paper she seemed to have it all going for her.
Well, what’s the problem with all of this, you want to know?
The interior didn’t match the exterior, or so the saying goes. Nova Crimson was a cold, ruthless bitch who got what she wanted when she wanted it and wasn’t afraid of the casualties who might get trampled in her wake.
There’d only ever been one person in her life who she’d allowed to see past the beautifully cold mask she hid behind, and that had been a boy named Olliver who’d been everything Nova had not. They’d become friends, of a sort, after Nova stood up to protect him.
Unfortunately, the very next day, Olliver and his useless drunk of a father disappeared without a trace. And Nova had been forced to go about her life as if a piece of her hadn’t gone missing right along with Olliver. The very best piece of her, the piece that held any time of compassion or love she might have ever had.
Now, all grown up and on her own in the world, Nova still can’t let the ghost of that boy go. The hunter in her wants to track him down and find him herself. But hunting men had only ever ended in one way with Nova and that was with their death. Something she made a great deal of money off of and was very, very good at.
One thing Nova had learned in life was that if you couldn’t do it yourself you needed the best of the best to get the job done for you.
That’s when River, Vega, and Talin walked into her life. That’s also when things took a drastic turn in Nova Crimson’s life because in order to embrace love one had to take off the beautiful mask that hid the beast and embrace the ugly on the inside.
(A Villainously Romantic Retelling)
Nova Crimson was absolutely beautiful, and she knew it. Not only was she beautiful but she was smart, filthy rich, had a fabulous wardrobe, a great house, on paper she seemed to have it all going for her.
Well, what’s the problem with all of this, you want to know?
The interior didn’t match the exterior, or so the saying goes. Nova Crimson was a cold, ruthless bitch who got what she wanted when she wanted it and wasn’t afraid of the casualties who might get trampled in her wake.
There’d only ever been one person in her life who she’d allowed to see past the beautifully cold mask she hid behind, and that had been a boy named Olliver who’d been everything Nova had not. They’d become friends, of a sort, after Nova stood up to protect him.
Unfortunately, the very next day, Olliver and his useless drunk of a father disappeared without a trace. And Nova had been forced to go about her life as if a piece of her hadn’t gone missing right along with Olliver. The very best piece of her, the piece that held any time of compassion or love she might have ever had.
Now, all grown up and on her own in the world, Nova still can’t let the ghost of that boy go. The hunter in her wants to track him down and find him herself. But hunting men had only ever ended in one way with Nova and that was with their death. Something she made a great deal of money off of and was very, very good at.
One thing Nova had learned in life was that if you couldn’t do it yourself you needed the best of the best to get the job done for you.
That’s when River, Vega, and Talin walked into her life. That’s also when things took a drastic turn in Nova Crimson’s life because in order to embrace love one had to take off the beautiful mask that hid the beast and embrace the ugly on the inside.
(A Villainously Romantic Retelling)
- GenresContemporary
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 13, 2019
This one felt like the odd one out in the series because Nova is a villain, as well as it being the loosest based. Four guys, multiple POVs and one of the harem is the victim instead.
The story was okay, going down the crime family route with trigger warnings (not fmc), MM (not harem), death and violence. Nova is probably the coldest and strongest (physically) FMC in the series. Favourite of the guys was Talin.
I wasn’t sure if it was Nova’s character or the writing style but it felt like everything was being explained and at some points rambling. It was good but probably my least favourite of the series.
The story was okay, going down the crime family route with trigger warnings (not fmc), MM (not harem), death and violence. Nova is probably the coldest and strongest (physically) FMC in the series. Favourite of the guys was Talin.
I wasn’t sure if it was Nova’s character or the writing style but it felt like everything was being explained and at some points rambling. It was good but probably my least favourite of the series.
November 10, 2019
Nova Crimson is beautiful, successful, and wealthy. She has it all. Appearances are deceiving. She is a monster. She's ruthless, a cold-blooded killer, and she's all alone. The only love she's ever knows came from her father and he's gone. There's only been one other person she let into her heart, a poor boy, Olliver, and he disappeared when they were still children. Now she's going to find him. She hires three PI's, River, Vega, and Talin never realizing what she was getting herself into.
This Villainous retelling of Beauty and the Beast does more than turn the original on its head. It turns it inside out and smashes it to bits before retelling it. It strips away the beauty to expose the beast, accepts the ugly to embrace the HEA. I loved it. Once again my only complaint about these collaborative stories is that I want more. This could have been a full-length novel and I still may have wanted more. The men were fantastic. River, Vega, and Talin were as close as brothers with the love and bickering that goes along with the closeness. When quiet Vega became chatty, when crazy Talin fell for the woman that got the upper hand on him, when River lost control I fell for each of them. Olliver had a complexity born out of trauma that could have been explored endlessly. Nova's unapologetic lifestyle and her unexpected openness to change made her a true force. I could have spent so much more time with these five, laughing, screaming, loving.
This Villainous retelling of Beauty and the Beast does more than turn the original on its head. It turns it inside out and smashes it to bits before retelling it. It strips away the beauty to expose the beast, accepts the ugly to embrace the HEA. I loved it. Once again my only complaint about these collaborative stories is that I want more. This could have been a full-length novel and I still may have wanted more. The men were fantastic. River, Vega, and Talin were as close as brothers with the love and bickering that goes along with the closeness. When quiet Vega became chatty, when crazy Talin fell for the woman that got the upper hand on him, when River lost control I fell for each of them. Olliver had a complexity born out of trauma that could have been explored endlessly. Nova's unapologetic lifestyle and her unexpected openness to change made her a true force. I could have spent so much more time with these five, laughing, screaming, loving.
May 24, 2020
So this book is supposed to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling but really for me it wasn't, even though it was quite a flip on the classic I still feel as if it was something else entirely and should have just been released as a standalone not apart of this collection. I really did like this book and probably would have liked it better if it wasn't apart of the villainously retelling series because of what I just said, this book could have just been a story about Nova hiring people to find her long lost friend and falling in love along the way without saying it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I did like Mary's writing style because it made the book seem longer than it was and also made it seem as if these characters knew each other way longer than they actually did. I also liked what Nova's profession was and how all the guys accepted it without any problems. The only other complaints that I had was I wished the book was longer and that we got more plot than we did, it seemed a little rushed at times and I also wished we got something that said "in the past" on the second chapter which was from Olliver's POV or that that chapter was the prequel or the first chapter since that would have been a better placement for it than where it was. Overall this was a good book and I did enjoy reading it.
November 26, 2020
Nova didn’t have the normal childhood as most children. She only had one friend, Olliver, and he meant the world to her, then one day he was gone...no trace anywhere. Years later she hires 3 PI’s to find him, not knowing that those 3 would come to mean the world to her as well......
Mary Martel delivers another amazing story that drags you in and captures your attention from the first sentence. This is a must read!
Mary Martel delivers another amazing story that drags you in and captures your attention from the first sentence. This is a must read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2021
Oh this one was good Nova, River, Vega, Talin, and Oliver were great to read about. This was an amazing read and a great series I wish there were more books but nope this was the last. Since this was the last book in the series it was a great way to end it.
June 24, 2023
Really great quick read. Hea are always great. True Heroine that doesn't not end up giving in. Finding her long lost Oliver sold by his father into a prostitution ring. Getting her revenge killing the man responsible in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2022
Tw rape, assault of a minor, murder
March 9, 2020
Reviewed on Amazon
February 24, 2020
Love love loved this!!
November 10, 2019
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Vanity (A Villainously Romantic Retelling Book 5) by Mary Martel
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Oh snap friends. This book is GOOOOOD!! Nova is a typical female that Mary writes about. She is feisty, fearless, and full of sass. She is not waiting for a Prince Charming. She pays him to “Help her out” *wink wink*. Nova hires 3 sexy men to find her childhood friend who disappeared without a sound.
River, Talin, and Vega have no clue but when they are near Nova they loose their cool and just want to be with her. There is something about her strength these men appreciate and approve of. When they find her friend, we learn a lot about her and Olliver’s lives.
This book is a quick read but it’s sexy as hell. There is so much angst plus impossible amounts of twists and turns. I am going to say if you love her Dollhouse books, Nova and Duchess would be best friends!!!
www.Twinsietalk.com
www.Facebook.com/Twinsietalk
www.Twitter.com/Twinsietalk
www.instagram.com/twinsietalk
Newsletter : http://eepurl.com/brwkPv
Vanity (A Villainously Romantic Retelling Book 5) by Mary Martel
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Oh snap friends. This book is GOOOOOD!! Nova is a typical female that Mary writes about. She is feisty, fearless, and full of sass. She is not waiting for a Prince Charming. She pays him to “Help her out” *wink wink*. Nova hires 3 sexy men to find her childhood friend who disappeared without a sound.
River, Talin, and Vega have no clue but when they are near Nova they loose their cool and just want to be with her. There is something about her strength these men appreciate and approve of. When they find her friend, we learn a lot about her and Olliver’s lives.
This book is a quick read but it’s sexy as hell. There is so much angst plus impossible amounts of twists and turns. I am going to say if you love her Dollhouse books, Nova and Duchess would be best friends!!!
November 14, 2019
This one is one not to be missed. I adored it because of the retelling. I chuckled quite often. I adore the way this author looks at things. I do not do many retelling of stories because for example the fairy tales that are the goody outlook are nothing like what the original are like. I prefer the original. This would also be a example of what I prefer. Anyways Nova is one character you will love to hate. But could you really? This is one that will have you keep it close to her and what does come into her life to shake her up. This world and what occurs are intriguing it will have you wondering a time or two just thinking about it. Oh and when the beast begins to come forth you really have to stick close by. Not having read any of the others in this series though I would if there was a opportunity if as grown up as this one. The caliber of the tale in this one is superb one that is not to be read before bedtime.
November 19, 2019
Wow!! What did I just read!!! A dark read that I was not expecting and absolutely loved!!!
Nova Crimson is beautiful, wealthy and has it all. But few know what she is really like. She is a cold stone killer. Only two people has ever shown her true love and that is her fathe, He is gone. The second is a boy named Olliver. He and his father disappeared after such a short time knowing him. She is determined to find him as an adult. Enter three PI's River, Vega and Talin. Now let the fun begin.
This loosely retelling of Beauty and the Beast was so freaking fun!! I love Mary Martel and she never dissapoints on a good read. The female lead is so beautifully deadly, and she is such a force. The guys were all amazing and I loved them all individually. I really could have spent all day reading about them, but this is a short, dark great read that will leave you wanting more from them!!!
Nova Crimson is beautiful, wealthy and has it all. But few know what she is really like. She is a cold stone killer. Only two people has ever shown her true love and that is her fathe, He is gone. The second is a boy named Olliver. He and his father disappeared after such a short time knowing him. She is determined to find him as an adult. Enter three PI's River, Vega and Talin. Now let the fun begin.
This loosely retelling of Beauty and the Beast was so freaking fun!! I love Mary Martel and she never dissapoints on a good read. The female lead is so beautifully deadly, and she is such a force. The guys were all amazing and I loved them all individually. I really could have spent all day reading about them, but this is a short, dark great read that will leave you wanting more from them!!!
November 13, 2019
I loved this book! Practically one of the first sentences said, “admiring my fantastic high heels. Black with a red underside and a six-inch heel. They'd been a gift from myself to myself, as all my gifts were wont to be.”, and I instantly fell in love with Nova because she was the boss and didn’t need anyone to buy her stuff because she could buy herself whatever she wanted. It was so awesome to see a villainess hero who was tough, bossy, trained to kill, and could get herself whatever she wanted! She loved her men because they made her softer and sweeter and completed her and gave her love. They loved her because she was so fierce and protective and actually loving and because of who she was and not anything else. Nova has a special place in my heart now. A great read!
November 15, 2019
Yessss
I was super excited to find out that some of my favorite authors were coming together to bring us these amazing retellings starring the villains that we hate to love. ❤
Mary Martel most definitely did not disappoint.
Nova is an absolute bad@$$ that knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it. My heart goes out to Olliver who really was the heart of the story. My favorite line from this book captured this story so perfectly.
"She might have been one of the villains in this story, but she was always a hero to me."
I was super excited to find out that some of my favorite authors were coming together to bring us these amazing retellings starring the villains that we hate to love. ❤
Mary Martel most definitely did not disappoint.
Nova is an absolute bad@$$ that knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it. My heart goes out to Olliver who really was the heart of the story. My favorite line from this book captured this story so perfectly.
"She might have been one of the villains in this story, but she was always a hero to me."
November 16, 2019
A great story
I sometimes find that standalone stories mean I don't have time to fall in love with the characters. Not in this case.
I like Mary Martel's writing. I find her easy to read and I like her characters even if at first they seem impossible to like. I really wasn't sure about Nova at first but,of course, that is the point of this series. I loved the guys, especially Olliver,. I liked the mix of fiery and calm, strong and seemingly weak, hard and soft. I loved how it all worked out in the end.
I have read this book on Kindle Unlimited.
I sometimes find that standalone stories mean I don't have time to fall in love with the characters. Not in this case.
I like Mary Martel's writing. I find her easy to read and I like her characters even if at first they seem impossible to like. I really wasn't sure about Nova at first but,of course, that is the point of this series. I loved the guys, especially Olliver,. I liked the mix of fiery and calm, strong and seemingly weak, hard and soft. I loved how it all worked out in the end.
I have read this book on Kindle Unlimited.
November 22, 2019
Good read!
I'm not usually a fan of retellings, but decided to give this a try because the story was told from the villains point of view and completely different than the original story of Beauty and the Beast.
This story was about a beastly beauty who is all alone due to her lifestyle and profession but her world is about to get crowded in the best way possible.
A quick but dark read I am happy to have taken a chance on.
I'm not usually a fan of retellings, but decided to give this a try because the story was told from the villains point of view and completely different than the original story of Beauty and the Beast.
This story was about a beastly beauty who is all alone due to her lifestyle and profession but her world is about to get crowded in the best way possible.
A quick but dark read I am happy to have taken a chance on.
November 10, 2019
Nova is cold hearted, ruthless and doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way and she will take down those who do. She hires 3 guys to look for her friend who she can’t get out of her mind and they bulldoze there way into her heart. I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend because you won’t be disappointed at all.
November 12, 2019
Absolutely loved this book. Loved Nova and the guys!
Nova is extremely cold hearted and alone in the world but is a total badass which is what I loved.
She hires 3 guys to help her find an old friend Olliver... she ends up falling for each of the guys and they all fall for her too, so they all decide to date her.
The guys find Olliver whose story is heartbreaking.
He ends up dating her also ❤️
Nova is extremely cold hearted and alone in the world but is a total badass which is what I loved.
She hires 3 guys to help her find an old friend Olliver... she ends up falling for each of the guys and they all fall for her too, so they all decide to date her.
The guys find Olliver whose story is heartbreaking.
He ends up dating her also ❤️
November 13, 2019
Villainous
Mary Martell did an amzing job with Vanity! This is pary of the Villa of Villians books and I have loved each and every one of them. Nova and her guys hooked me in and I fell a little bit for them all. I'll let you read and figure out which retelling this is.
This is an RH meaning the MC doesn't have to choose one person. #whychoose
Mary Martell did an amzing job with Vanity! This is pary of the Villa of Villians books and I have loved each and every one of them. Nova and her guys hooked me in and I fell a little bit for them all. I'll let you read and figure out which retelling this is.
This is an RH meaning the MC doesn't have to choose one person. #whychoose
November 21, 2019
Nova is that character that i really really LOVE. She’s a bad mamajama that doesn’t take any crap and just wants to be loved. This story was great! It was a bit sadder than I expected at some points with Oliver but that’s what makes this story so awesome. Mary always writes her characters into stories with a depth and realness that I really love. I definitely recommend giving this book a read.
November 22, 2019
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling. I like my FMCS to sometimes have questionable morals and be not so innocent and I definitely got this here! I also really liked the switch flipped where a guy needed rescuing instead of the female. I’d read again and recommend giving it a try.
I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling. I like my FMCS to sometimes have questionable morals and be not so innocent and I definitely got this here! I also really liked the switch flipped where a guy needed rescuing instead of the female. I’d read again and recommend giving it a try.
November 13, 2019
Mirror on the wall......I am loving these Villain RH retellings, such a great concept and so much fun and great stories and sexy men to go around! I love Nova Im all about kick ass females, I wish I was one!!! Great read!!
November 13, 2019
More than a five star read
WOW!!!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!! My heart broke for Olliver 😢Nova was a bada$$ I know most won't like her but I loved her and would love to see more of her and her men. This is more than a 5 star read
WOW!!!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!! My heart broke for Olliver 😢Nova was a bada$$ I know most won't like her but I loved her and would love to see more of her and her men. This is more than a 5 star read
November 14, 2019
Glad I stuck with it!! It was a rough start for me, but it turned out awesome!! I love Talin!! Nova is such an intense woman.
November 16, 2019
Damn, what a wicked story!
Vanity is a quick read but it is full of angst, mystery and is hot and sexy.
Nova is one badass, fearless woman who has plenty of sass and some freaking hot men.
Vanity is a quick read but it is full of angst, mystery and is hot and sexy.
Nova is one badass, fearless woman who has plenty of sass and some freaking hot men.
November 22, 2019
3.75 stars
November 24, 2019
Enjoyed
Love this author and love when the villain gets a happily ever after. I really enjoyed this story and how it worked out and ended
Love this author and love when the villain gets a happily ever after. I really enjoyed this story and how it worked out and ended
December 31, 2019
Great story
This story was so good. The characters are fantastic, I love their stories and how they all came together. And I love the happy ending.
This story was so good. The characters are fantastic, I love their stories and how they all came together. And I love the happy ending.
January 13, 2020
Yes! I love Nova and her guys, this was an awesome read. The subtle violence, the steamy romances and the sorrow that poor Nova and Olliver go through in their separate ways. Absolutely beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews