Billie and the Russian Beast

Quarantales #2

by Theodora Taylor

“You are stubborn,” he notes. “This will be fun.”

“Maybe for you,” I answer.

“For both of us,” he says. Then he steps closer. Way, way, too close. “This is my promise.”


This is the second, smoking hot story in the QUARANTALES series.

READER NOTE: The QUARANTALES series starts off steamy and gets hotter with each read until its sweet finale. So make sure to check out all of the stories in this ultra-modern, special quarantine take on some of your favorite fairytales:

CYNDA AND THE CITY DOCTOR
BILLIE AND THE RUSSIAN BEAST
GOLDIE AND THE THREE BEARS
REINA AND THE HEAVY METAL PRINCE

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Interracial Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Russia, Erotic Romance

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2020

About the author

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Theodora Taylor writes hot books with heart. When not reading, reviewing or writing, she enjoys spending time with her amazing family, going on dating nights with her wonderful husband, and attending parties thrown by others.

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Theodora Taylor schreibt feurige Bücher mit Herz. Wenn sie nicht gerade selbst liest, schreibt oder Deutsch lernt, verbringt sie am liebsten Zeit mit ihrer Familie oder geht mit ihrem wundervollen Mann aus.

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Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a return to form

This was almost as good as her older works, you know the ones we all enjoyed and became fans over. There are some things that kept this from being better.

1. Please stop putting real life real world corona references in your books. I get it for some reason authors think it's cute to do corona tales but it isn't. We are all living it, real time, and we don't need references to the pandemic in our fantasy romance novels.

2. Black women are allowed to be soft and feminine and even weak or in need of saving and protecting. Hearing the H go on and on about being a strong black woman and not needing any help or man was annoying at best.

3. Please leave politics out of your books. With the last 5 or so novels the author has chosen to bring in a range of political and soci issues to a romance fantasy novel. These include black on white crime references, protest references, lgbt references, drug abuse references, sexual abuse reference, police statistics references, and police brutality references, among others. I know I can't be the only reader that does not want to read about all of these issues in romance fantasy novels. I feel like if you want to write about these issues why not write some non fiction essays. This would be better than forcing all of your ideals, news references and world chaos on to your readers....who just want to read a ROMANCE NOVEL.

If you have read any of this authors other stories then you know about all of these shifts that I have mentioned. The author wants to put all of this extra unrelated content in her works instead of focusing on writing a good romance tale. Plus her tycoons and ruthless criminals (or whatever that series was called) men were all barely a step above awful humans making the novels mostly unreadable. I really don't want that to continue.

It's good to see another Rustanov and another male without a plethora of mental, drug and criminal problems (which hello, those aren't endearing in romance novels). Hopefully we get more Rustanovs and a further return to form, the form that made us all fans in the first place.

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beastly Rustanov but is he serious?

Oh, yes he is and in Theodora Taylor's 2nd Quarantale, daring hero and hockey player, Cheslav Rustanov has a proposition or should we say an 'entanglement' (lol) for the practical bore, Billie aka Miss Princess South Carolina! Or should I say it a hidden agenda!

I enjoyed reading Chess and Billie's reimagined Beauty and the Beast story! It's engaging, cute, funny and sexy with some nice twists!


5 stars and a beastly Chess!

ARC given for an honest review

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Classic Theodora!

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A steamy, fun novella

This was a cute, very steamy romance having the usual feels you come to expect from Theodora. The story showcased the familiar Rustanov family, hockey player Cheslav Romanov, and a new love, Billie, a selfless accountant and former pageant queen. (Billie is friends with Cynda from the first series.) Chess and Billie were instantly attracted to each other though only one knew the extent of and the lengths one would go for that attraction. They embark upon a sexual agreement until they realize there is more to their relationship.

This was a novella, contemporary, almost sweet romance with a small conflict. It moved quickly, but not at risk to the story. Characters were endearing; Chess showing skillful dominance and control of his submissively-inclined lady love, Billie. The push and pull in the relationship did not endear me to the story as I found it unrealistic as well as unoriginal. They realized their happily ever after once they resolved a key conflict.

Overall, a quick, light-hearted, steamy read, largely traditional, enjoyable.

[Jessen Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billie is used to cleaning up her older brother’s messes. She’s done everything she can to keep him out of trouble by handling his money that he would otherwise blow. For the first time, Billie is financially secure and is preparing to take the CPA exam.

But her brother has landed in hot water again! He owes a lot of money to a Russian hockey player, more than she can ever hope to come up with in such a short amount of time. Chess offers her a deal. Spend one week with him and her brother's debt will be forgiven. This is a fast-paced and smutty modern retelling of Beauty of the Beast.

Unfortunately, Chess was kind of an alphahole and the drama during the final few chapters didn’t endear him to me at all. I wouldn’t blame Billie for washing her hands of both Chess and her brother.

[Debra Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chess and Billie

The story started out in a way I didn’t think I would want to continue. The whole “ PET get and stay naked situation” but I continued and was pleased to see the story had many layers or should I say Chess had many layers.

[Iisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second book of Theodora Taylor's new series Quaratales. This story is a twist on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. Billie and Chess had great chemistry. Chess wanted Billie by any means necessary. Even if it ment he would lose her. I didn't like Billie's snake of a brother. He was so lowdown and ungrateful. The story was well written. I really enjoyed reading this book. I can't wait for the next book in this series. Good job, Theodora Taylor! 👏🏾👏🏾

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn’t going to finish this and then I wasn’t going to review it because I was annoyed.
I won’t even get into my usual Taylor stuff because this felt like she was making up for her last Beauty and Beast retelling. Which, let’s not go there.
I believe you can do an BWWM romance without shitting on Black men. However, in this book the Black men aren’t shit and then she had the nerve to invoke George Floyd. This ain’t the move.

[Liyah P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC review:
This is the sequel to Mrs. Taylor qunartine tales following Billie & Cheslav. Billie is a woman who is content with her life only one problem "Her user brother". That said brother puts her in the cross hair of one sexy alpha Cheslav Rustanov yes we got some more hot ASF Rustanov men still left. One proposition changes Billie life forever she no longer just content with being alone and not living life to her fullest. Just as Chess changes Billie, Billie changes Chess his able to see that there's more then life then just hockey and from there you got yourself a Theodora Taylor story with a side of blackmail in the mix. Chess I found was different from his Rustanov family i mean he still had that alpha just like his family and he sure did scheme like them. But where I see the difference is his willingness to be open with Billie and having the patience to win his women. His cousin would of just kept on forcing their way in.The book was a quick read and the story is what you would expect from Mrs. Taylor. Definitely like this story more then the previous one so that's good. Look forward to Gina's story she got three men lord child that should be HOT.

[M.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Billie, a self proclaimed bore who loves her quiet, boring mostly drama free life. The only problem is the amount of trouble her big brother seem to get into. Enter Cheslav, a beast of a hockey player with a famous last name and an obsession with the former Princess South Carolina with money to spare and a devious plan to make Billie his. Will love conquer all or was the act to Beastly for this beauty.
A cute story. The romance between these to was quick and hot right out the gate! I loved connection between Billie and Chess, it was instant and strong. The story moved fast and held my attention from the 1st page. I love a play on fair tales so this was right up my alley. Great rainy day romance to get lost in. I highly recommend it!

[Cammyjoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Chess and Miss Princess

This is a real nice series, hopefully I won't have to wait too long for Gina & her three Bears. Wow!!!
Anyway, sometimes a man ( or woman) would go or do some stupid sh•t to get a woman,and Cheslav,the Hot hockey player is no exception...

Billie,"Princess South Carolina" has been her older brother "keeper" ,since like forever, and Clem,her brother just takes her for granted,got himself in trouble and little sis,always find a way to rescue him. This time ,in order to save his brother she has to spend 5 days with Chess and the conditions will blow your mind.
I love the big Russian, he is something else!
Great read.

[BreakingtheEpigraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two of the Quarantales by author Theodora Taylor is one of revelations. Billie has been keeping a promise to her dying mother to be there for her brother Clem; however, this time, she will receive the shock of her life. Cheslav Rustanov has wanted Billie since the first time he’d seen her. When the perfect opportunity presented itself, he grabbed it with both hands and mastered it like the beast he is on the ice. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Good and Sensual Romance

Bill!ie and the Russian Beast: An Enemies to Lovers Russian Hockey Player Sports Romance is a very good and sensual romance that earned a rating of five stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about how Billie met Cheslav and fell in love with him against the odds. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves reading very good romance novels.

[Nancy L Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Better....

This book has much better editing than the first. The characters can be funny. But if like a little more depth in some of the characters. There are questions that I feel.should be answered since the characters were put in the story. Like what is res
My going on with her brother?

[Mspraise50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, straight to point story which I enjoyed.

[Fashionista · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT & SWEET! 😘🔥♥️

[Tranese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I enjoyed the dynamic between Billie and Cheslav and the plot behind it. I feel like this was rushed. Billie is suppose to be this strong, independent woman but yet she caved in easily to Ches and was so forgiving. In Theodora's usual stories the women put up fights and the men are literally groveling to have them back. Don't get me wrong. This one is my favorite out of the series, I just didnt like the back and forth Billie kept doing

[Ren Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

**Harsh review**
The beginning of the book is too much like "His Revenge Baby" and instead of being a nurse (like in HRB), our current leading lady, Billie, is an accountant. Of course, her mother died of cancer. Of course, she has mommy issues. Of course, her mother preferred her brother. Of course her father disappeared (or died, I can't remember) Of course, she has a worthless brother who she has to take care of (a grown ass Negro, at that). Of course the brother gets himself into trouble and, instead of telling him to eff off, Billie reminds us that she's a strong black woman (multiple times) and just HAS to go and settle his debts which includes stripping naked and then boinking the big bad Russian. This is what strong black women do, I guess. I've been black all my life but what do I know? Anyway, this a mess. The story humps along and then she pops up pregnant 😑 blah,blah, blah, the big bad Russian wants to marry her, blah blah blah, he did something wrong, blah blah blah then it comes out that it was a deal between her worthless brother and the big bad Russian. The big bad Russian wanted to meet her and the whole debt thing was set up in a way where Billie and the big bad Russian get together but it wasn't supposed to be serious. Then when the worthless brother becomes more of an ass and tries to assault her, the big bad Russian steps in, ready to clean the brother's clock. But wait, what does Billie do? She screams "You think the way to solve this is with White on Black violence!!!"
I think I chipped a tooth, I was grinding my teeth so hard...
Okay...
I get it.
George Floyd...
Breonna Taylor...
So many others...so many fucking others...
We don't want to see that, EVER, in life again. The useless, senseless killings of our brothers and sisters has been playing on loop since forever and it has to stop. It truly does.
However...
With that being said, what irked me about this story is the repetitive theme of worthless Black men denigrating Black women who in turn feel its their sacred duty to protect the Black man at all cost.
AT.
ALL.
COST.
It didn't matter that Billie was not considered worth anything by her mother (who, no doubt, was a warrior for the patriarchy). It didn't matter that her brother did not consider her worth anything when he made arrangements for her to "spend time with someone" who could have harmed her. That's called pimping. It didn't matter that Billie's "I'm a strong woman" mantra is a tired trope, even to her own ears. I think it was the fact that she snapped at someone who was defending her from getting her pregnant ass kicked that bothered me because, at the end of all of this, she was brainwashed enough to open her mouth to say "You think the way to solve this is with White on Black violence" and we're supposed to think yah, you're saving a black man from getting a beating that he so richly deserved. GTFOH with that. Saving a worthless man who didn't hesitate to pimp out his sister is not one that deserves a high-five. Its not making her look like that "strong black woman" that she is so fixated on. It really doesn't. What is happening here is another story of a woman's autonomy being shunted to the side to preserve the male gaze, whether he's related to her or not. That, in itself, eclipsed everything that Ms.Taylor was trying to get across. Fix that, and maybe this could be a story worth recommending.

[Schuron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish Sapphire trope would die, it doesn't belong in romance

I'm so sick and tired of the strong black women. If you are strong you don't habe to go around announcing it. I'm a strong black women is like saying I'm a pack mule. It time for that character flaw to die for black women. It's toxic and used as an excuse to except toxic behavior from toxic mother and worthless toxic black men. How in the world is it ok for a younger sister to mother, provide and protect a worthless dusty with a bag old brother and for what so he can pimp her out to the highest bidder the first chances he gets. The book was the true nature and pathetic pathology of a worthless black men and I couldn't take it. Black women can't even stop caping for the worthless men in a fictional romance novel and that's just sad. Billie is an idiot who's been babying her grown ass brother because her sorry toxic mother laid some guilt trip on her death bed. I was so disgusted by this book. Wasting a perfectly good Rustanov on this heffa really. Rustanov that constantly provide and protect. Rustanov who mean what they say and men of action. Then she had the nerve to say out of her mouth I don't need you to protect me. Then if not him who girl? Not you brother who is a grown infant. Then the real gag was when she told Chess some bs about white on black violence. It was not lost on me that her no good low down dirty brother submitted with little to no effort in the arms of the white man because we all know that where he wants to be anyway. Chile, she turned down a man who was willing to marry her because she was carrying his baby, you know not make you a baby mama, and she argued about that! A man who told her every chance he got that he wanted her and though she was beautiful inside of tell her she loud, masculine and aggressive. She don't need a Rustanov she need three trash bag struggle dusty Tyrone so she can feel alive in a struggle relationship. Tyrone who can't be faithful even if he wore a muzzle and a chastity belt, he will find away to over come that. But let it be trying to over come being broke, I can't.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this couple

Okay I just want to start off by saying saying Billie older brother Clem is a real piece of work. Just in the beginning of the book when she talks about how she was only 18 years old and was trying to get by paying her brother college bills, as well as house bills and food bills. That instantly put me in a wtf type of mind set. But I was more then curious about what the circumstances could be, a part of me trying to see the best in the situation, and maybe she was helping assist with the bills. You know siblings wanting to help carry each other weights.

But no, no, no, not Clem, this boy, and i do mean BOY, is out of his mind. I feel extremely bad for Billie, her mother and brother taken advantage of her, and have used to her to the max. That blows my mind how her mother could allow that to happen. She is mostly at blame for do this in the first place, for making it seem like Billie had to take care of her older brother. Make all the sacrifices and struggle for her brother success. The mother is just twisted, and ruin any type of sympathy I would've had for her. Karma is truly a funny thing.

But other than that I love Theodora Taylor Russians male leads. I was so happy that she wrote a book containing one. Chess is just like the rest of his other family male. Willing to bend ONLY to his female and none other. I love the fact that he make it very clear he want only her, and when she told him to step back he did just that, while making it very clear that he is here for the long run. Then to make this treat even more sweet, he shows her that he's more then willing to make the sacrifices that is needed to get her.

Yes he made his mistakes, and apologize for them, but he is here for her and ONLY wanted her. He is truly a man that makes your heart race and have you saying awe. So far I'm in love with this series but this is my favorite book out of the 2/3 books I read of the Quarantales series. I cannot wait to read book 3, Gina books looks like I might need a bag of popcorn, with extra butter. 1 Ex Boyfriend, and 3 new ones, yup need a big bag of buttery popcorn for this one.

[Crystal M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another yummy Rustanov!
He may not be a 5-star gentleman, but Cheslav Rustanov is Alpha all the way. I have loved the Russian brutes in Taylor’s books, although it’s always very difficult to immediately discern the real gold in them, way down deep. Cheslav Rustanov is no slouch when it comes to getting what he wants. And accountant Billie is one of those things. She feels responsible for her brother, (unfortunately a typical man/child type), who is an NFL player with a huge gambling problem. She feels this especially especially since her late mother always urged her to take care of older brother Clemson. His gambling debts lead to Billie being obligated to cover those debts to Cheslav, a national hockey player, but more importantly, a Rustanov—with all the wealth and power that name implies—in America and Russia. All the intricacies to this intersection of their fates is a Theodora Taylor trademark technique—lots of finesse, intensity, passion, attention to details and writing skill here. Expect to find Cheslav to be abrasive, pushy, demanding, irascible, and uber sexy of course. But Billie comes to see the need to continue to be her own woman (even when her brother lets her down, again) and of course, there are beaucoup fireworks. Look no further for an answer about an extremely pleasant occupation during quarantine or anytime: reading this Taylor offering (actually any of them) hits the spot.

[Miss D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book.

More of an old school romance with a little bit of darkness to it. A quick read where I found myself sucked in to Billie & Cheslav's love story pretty quickly. There is no meet cute or an easing in to things. Readers are thrown in early and quickly on this ride but oh what a ride!

Billie and Chess can be cute in a cerebral way but there's an intensity to them that forms from jump so their interactions have an edge to them. They are sexy characters in their respective practicality, determination, and loyalty, for better or worse. I almost want a sequel to their relationship if only to see how the board game lessons turn out and if Billie will finally win. (I am sure we'll get a glimpse of how Billie & Chess are doing in the upcoming final quarantales book featuring Gina)

I enjoy the characters individually and as a couple, they really click in a pleasing manner. I also like the spin on Beauty & The Beast that "Billie and the Russian Beast" provides readers. It's close enough to the well known tale but with an angle uniquely its own. I definitely recommend it.

[shadiedaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie is a former beauty pageant and NFL cheerleader that is currently studying for her CPA certification. She has been managing the money of her older football-playing brother that has not grown up. Due to his impulsivity and selfishness, she is now in the clutches of a Rustanov. She is now praying to survive this encounter.

Cheslav “Chess” Rustanov is a champion well-known hockey player and a high stakes gambler. He never loses—at anything. Then he met Billie. This one game he will lose, and he is willing to take the risk.

This is book two in the four-book quarantine series written by Theodora Taylor. Each book is connected because the female characters are friends, however, each book can be read as a standalone. This is a short, to the point, steamy quarantine-based novella. Within the first 20 pages, the action begins and does not stop until the end of the novel. If you are the type of reader that likes things to develop slowly, this novel is not for you. It is the usual brilliant Theodora Taylor style and gives the reader a hint of what happens in the first and third novellas. This story ends on a HEA.

[Cherryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Russian Beast was a sweetheart

My heart just caved in for Cheslav Rustanov. He really was in love with Billie from the first time he saw her and was determined to find a way to make her his even though she did not date athletes. And what is with these Rustanovs making their women/pets stay naked. Boris and Alexei did the same thing to their women. Anyway, Billie seemed to like her accountant's boring life until Ches came along with his arrangement per her brother's predicament. I can't believe her brother did that to her. I'd be ready to kick his azz good time. Clem was horrible. Regardless, Ches still wanted to love and protect Billie, even if it was from afar. With all of the sweet romantic stuff he confessed to Billie, I would forgive him too. He just melted my heart. Every woman wants to hear a man sincerely declare his love and protection for the one he loves.

Theodora always brings it with these stories and this one does not fail to either. I love it. I can't wait to read about Gina and her boyfriends.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie's brother makes a deal with Chess to have his sister pay off his gambling debt. Chess says five days will pay off the debt. Before the time is up, Chess asks Billie for a date to his hockey game on the evening of the fifth day. It never occurs as the pandemic shuts down everything. She goes home where she is later accosted by a police officer. Chess shows up and protects her and requests that she move into his home for one month so he can convince her to marry him. She agrees but will she go through with it? Will her brother allow her?

I enjoyed this story so much that I did nothing until I finished it. I loved the chemistry between Billie and Chess. Both bring out the best in each other. I liked that Billie could see her relationships for what they were. Billie acknowledged what she knew about her past and shared it with Chess who reassures her even though he falls into the same behavior. They had their problems but the attraction was strong. I was glad they were able to work everything out.

[Karen's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodora Taylor has a way of making the most unlikeable characters in the end loveable or at the least very like able and that is definitely the case for me with Billie and the Russian Beast. Billie and Cheslav do not meet under the best of circumstances but the sparks of lust that immediately fly between these two makes things interesting to say the least. In the beginning I’m not a fan of Reslav but he eventually redeems himself which made for a great read. I can always count on Ms Taylor’s stories to take me on a entertainingly out of the ordinary adventure and Billie and Reslav definitely got me out of my own head and deeply into theirs . This was a great distraction from the everyday issues going on right now and I appreciated the break that Billie and the Russian Beast afforded me .

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billie is a practical accountant whose life turns upside down when she needs to help her brother pay off his gambling debt. The person her brother owes the debt to is a Russian hockey player named Cheslav who would rather have Billie than the money. Billie needs to decide if she will submit to Cheslav or figure out some other way to get out of this predicament.

The book starts off very intense and dangerous but surprisingly turns into a light-hearted humorous cute love story. I really liked Billie and Cheslav's interactions. They really pushed each other to go outside of their comfort zones. During her time with Cheslav, Billie learned what matters to her and how to put herself and her needs first.

This was another great story in the Quarantales series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

[Caroline Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars, and the down-starring is mostly because I had some issues with the way the lead utilized his personal power to put the heroine in a situation of forced intimacy. Yeah, he turned out to be a "nice guy", and there was an HEA... but it's kind of stretching the boundaries of consent and imagination that a situation like this would turn out well, ever. The writing is good, though, and despite my reluctance with the themes, I did like the characters. The heroine had a seriously messed up sibling, though.

Not going to post spoilers. You may or may not enjoy it. There are themes of questionable consent and a lot of sex and language (both of those I'm sure everyone buying it is in for 100%). It ties into the rest of the series (Quarantales) and characters overlap, but stories are standalone.

[M Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book all the way to the silly ending which was so poorly done! Grr

Enjoyable read if not totally predictable. Fairly formulaic and really not up to TT's usual standards.

Loved the quarantine inclusion though

And lets talk about that silly ending from 84%. Seriously she leaves him cos she's upset he planned it with her brother? I would have been enamoured with the fact he'd always been into me so much and had gone to such lengths to be with me. But no she leaves him. totally implausible and stupid n ruined the book. Written solely to create a last bit of angst but was so predicable and formulaic it was beneath TT's level of writing.

So far these quaratales are not up to scratch for me at all. Too trite n formulaic. Too predictable. No heat the sex scenes left me cold.

Again disappointed and only 3 stars

[Zsa Zsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary fast paced take on the classic Beauty and the Beast.

Billie a strong, intelligent, loyal individual who endeavours to honour her mother's dying wish. She becomes embroiled in an unexpected and untenable situation created by her irresponsible brother. Cheslav prevails upon Billie to accept his highly objectionable offer to resolve her brother's predicament.

Suspending any real world response I would have to Billie's situation, I can't help but enjoy this story. Despite the circumstances Billie and Chess have chemistry to spare. Without giving anything away I wish that Clem could have shown some redeemable behaviour, though he is representative of some people.

I am onlooking forward to the next Quarantales story after reading this story.