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Beauty Tempts the Beast
Revenge is my life’s work.
I’m an artist in the subject -- and there’s one masterpiece I’ve had my eye on for quite some time.
Helen.
She seems innocent and sweet, but she comes from a family that left me scarred and broken. Taking her will be the pinnacle of my vengeance.
So I do.
But once I have her -- I can’t seem to continue with my plan.
This has never happened...
I’ve killed without remorse, taken revenge again and again on any who wronged me.
But when it comes to Helen, I can’t bear to see her so much as break a nail, which happens with a frightening frequency given her adorable clumsiness. So I keep her. And I protect her. And before I know it -- I love her.
But her family isn’t the sort to let anything or anyone go. I’ll have to fight to keep her, but will my beauty decide to stay with her beast -- or leave and break my heart?
*-*
MINK's Note: Who doesn't love a tale as old as time, made so much better with a kitty and a coffee, and a beast who would do anything for the beauty he loves?
I’m an artist in the subject -- and there’s one masterpiece I’ve had my eye on for quite some time.
Helen.
She seems innocent and sweet, but she comes from a family that left me scarred and broken. Taking her will be the pinnacle of my vengeance.
So I do.
But once I have her -- I can’t seem to continue with my plan.
This has never happened...
I’ve killed without remorse, taken revenge again and again on any who wronged me.
But when it comes to Helen, I can’t bear to see her so much as break a nail, which happens with a frightening frequency given her adorable clumsiness. So I keep her. And I protect her. And before I know it -- I love her.
But her family isn’t the sort to let anything or anyone go. I’ll have to fight to keep her, but will my beauty decide to stay with her beast -- or leave and break my heart?
*-*
MINK's Note: Who doesn't love a tale as old as time, made so much better with a kitty and a coffee, and a beast who would do anything for the beauty he loves?
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2020
692 people are currently reading
604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
October 18, 2020
3.75 “Perfection is a mirage” stars 🌟
Revenge is the only dish I’ve ever made to perfection.
After a tragedy leaves Ajax scarred and broken, he plans to avenge the death of his parents by kidnapping and torturing Helen, who comes from the family responsible for his misfortune.
“You're not my hero.”
“No, I’m not. You’d do best to remember that, because the things I’m thinking about doing to your body are far from heroic. They would have you running from this room in fear.”
But once Ajax has her, he can’t seem to continue with the plan.
The rage. It’s always there, burning inside me. Except… except when I look at her.
I was in the mood for a quick read, and hadn't expected to like this as much as I did!
“You’ve been an unexpected light in the darkness. One that I hadn’t even known I needed. Once I got a taste of you, I knew I’d never be the same. I had to have more. I tried to resist. I tried to hate you. But I wanted more. Needed it. Needed you.”
“I can’t hurt you.” He admits. “But I also can’t let you go.”
Beauty Tempts the Beast is definitely one of my favourite books by Mink so far.
Revenge is the only dish I’ve ever made to perfection.
After a tragedy leaves Ajax scarred and broken, he plans to avenge the death of his parents by kidnapping and torturing Helen, who comes from the family responsible for his misfortune.
“You're not my hero.”
“No, I’m not. You’d do best to remember that, because the things I’m thinking about doing to your body are far from heroic. They would have you running from this room in fear.”
But once Ajax has her, he can’t seem to continue with the plan.
The rage. It’s always there, burning inside me. Except… except when I look at her.
I was in the mood for a quick read, and hadn't expected to like this as much as I did!
“You’ve been an unexpected light in the darkness. One that I hadn’t even known I needed. Once I got a taste of you, I knew I’d never be the same. I had to have more. I tried to resist. I tried to hate you. But I wanted more. Needed it. Needed you.”
“I can’t hurt you.” He admits. “But I also can’t let you go.”
Beauty Tempts the Beast is definitely one of my favourite books by Mink so far.
January 21, 2024
•| ⊱✿⊰ |• 3,8 Stars •| ⊱✿⊰ |
Ajax's parents were killed in a fire, he almost died.
The Carrigan's thought so.
Now it's time for his vengeance.
Helen is very different from her parents, but Ajax doesn't care about that.
Until he kidnaps her and sees that her parents don't care about her.
Helen stands with Ajax against her own parents.
The time they spent together, made her love him, too.
September 19, 2020
Who doesnt love a retelling of beauty and the beast? This one is fast pace and some steam.
Ajax has a goal to get his revenge agains Helen and her family, even if he's becoming obsessed with his target and even if she had nothing to do with what her parents did. But he can't help feel different when he ruins a date and stalks her every move, now its time to get his beauty and boy that kidnapping scene caused more blood then anything and he didn't hurt her she kinda hurt herself. Which is a common thing. And I laughed when Ajax kept saying he was going to torture her, make her bleed but when she would injury herself he turned into a protective alpha not wanting anything bad to happen to her.
It took awhile for him to finally come around to his feelings but that didnt stop Helen from wanting her beast. Also yes there is a cat lol.
No ow drama alight om drama, no cheating, Slight secondary chara, Tiny drama, sexy times, both virgins
Recommend- yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Slowinsta
Push away from H
Older/younger couple
Masturbation
Panic attack
No condom
Safeish (if you dont count the kidnapping)
Past kidnapping (from others)
Hea
Epilogue
Ajax has a goal to get his revenge agains Helen and her family, even if he's becoming obsessed with his target and even if she had nothing to do with what her parents did. But he can't help feel different when he ruins a date and stalks her every move, now its time to get his beauty and boy that kidnapping scene caused more blood then anything and he didn't hurt her she kinda hurt herself. Which is a common thing. And I laughed when Ajax kept saying he was going to torture her, make her bleed but when she would injury herself he turned into a protective alpha not wanting anything bad to happen to her.
It took awhile for him to finally come around to his feelings but that didnt stop Helen from wanting her beast. Also yes there is a cat lol.
No ow drama alight om drama, no cheating, Slight secondary chara, Tiny drama, sexy times, both virgins
Recommend- yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Slowinsta
Push away from H
Older/younger couple
Masturbation
Panic attack
No condom
Safeish (if you dont count the kidnapping)
Past kidnapping (from others)
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
This book has everything that I love in a dark beauty and the beast reimagining! The “Beast” in this case wants revenge on the people who murdered his family, the events during which he became disfigured from a horrible fire that burned down his home. He captures “Beauty” so he can have revenge on her parents, but he can’t bring himself to torture and kill her, which was his plan. Despite the dark plot, it was quite light in parts. I loved how Beauty brought her cat along with her (wrong place, wrong time for “Fuzzy”), and the cat loves curling up at the foot of Beast’s bed, much to his chagrin. The Beast has a snarky butler who’s always inputting his two cents worth into the arguments Beast has with Beauty.
The Beast really wants to stay focused on his revenge, but he can’t help but fall in love with Beauty, who’s innocent and sweet and nothing at all like her evil, cruel parents.
All in all, this is a fabulous, short, fast-paced, and romantic read!
The Beast really wants to stay focused on his revenge, but he can’t help but fall in love with Beauty, who’s innocent and sweet and nothing at all like her evil, cruel parents.
All in all, this is a fabulous, short, fast-paced, and romantic read!
October 25, 2020
"Oh, Bella, soy completamente malvado. Como un demonio de las profundidades del infierno enviado aquí para atormentar a los vivos."
Beauty Tempts The Beast de MINK
Mí humilde opinión:
Ajax estuvo planeado su venganza por mucho tiempo.
Ellos mandaron a matar a sus padres a sangre fría.
Los vio morir ante sus ojos cuando tenía 18 años y no pudo hacer nada para salvarlos, terminando él con quemaduras terribles en la mitad de su rostro.
Los Carrigans pagarán con sangre, su venganza caerá sobre ellos muy pronto.
Y comenzará con su hija Helen.
Helen Carrington está feliz de vivir su vida lejos de sus padres en la universidad.
Pero su madre no deja de buscarle novios y manejar ese aspecto de su vida. En una cita que ella le impone, termina mal y aparece un extraño que la defiende.
Ella comienza a llamarlo su héroe.
Sin embargo, no puede estar más equivocada porque el hombre con el que sueña es real y la quiere para vengarse de sus padres.
Ajax ha matado sin remordimientos pero cuando secuestra a Helen y se la lleva a su casa se da cuenta que no puede hacerle daño.
Confundido por los sentimientos que le despierta, se queda con ella.
Helen se abre paso en el corazón de Ajax con ternura, risa y amor alejando las sombras. No ve horror en su rostro cuando ve sus quemaduras sino deseo por él.
Hay quienes quieren apartarla de su lado y luchará a muerte para conservarla.
Solo espera que su bella al final se quede con él y no le rompa el corazón.
Este libro fue un retelling corto y fácil de leer de La bella y la bestia llevado a tiempos actuales, oscuro, violento y erótico.
Tuve sentimientos encontrados con este libro...
Me resultaron crudos y retorcidos los pensamientos del héroe sobre cómo iba a utilizar a la heroína para vengarse.
Pero después, mientras leía más, Ajax cambió, él no quiere otra cosa que cuidarla y odiaba que ella se lastimara.
El tiempo que ellos están juntos en la casa mientras la tiene de rehén, hay situaciones de tensión, drama y pasión, ellos crecen juntos como pareja.
Los dos tienen cicatrices, son víctimas de los padres de Helen, me gustó que se encuentran y se ayudan mutuamente a enfrentar lo que les sucedió en el pasado.
Pero voy a decir que la reacción de Helen en muchas situaciones desde que Ajax se la lleva fueron ridículas. De todas formas, fue una lectura que estaba disfrutando por lo que pasé por alto muchas de las acciones de ella.
Este no es un libro para cualquiera, tiene un tono violento con muchas sombras pero también tiene una linda historia de amor, algo de comedia, acción y peligro que me sorprendió disfrutar. Sobretodo ese epilogo, totalmente un dulce de leche!
September 24, 2020
4 stars
-no cheating
-no ow drama
-om drama from a man that get mother set her up with. The hero stopped it
-violence
-dual virgin
-ok epilogue a few years out
-no cheating
-no ow drama
-om drama from a man that get mother set her up with. The hero stopped it
-violence
-dual virgin
-ok epilogue a few years out
August 1, 2022
3.5 stars
surprised i actually enjoyed this, as over the top as it was 🤪
surprised i actually enjoyed this, as over the top as it was 🤪
July 22, 2021
Ok but I'm actually in love- I just had so much fun with this book.
If you've read my last review, you'll notice that I'm sort of going through a MINK phase at the moment- and this book has just fueled the fire. I just found this book absolutely hilarious- like I honestly don't know if it was intentional, and that just makes it so much better . I mean, I feel like the fact that I read this book at 3 am probably helped its case, but I'm not complaining. The story was just so over the top and stupid- and I loved it so much. It was far from perfect and more than a little dodgy, but I genuinely enjoyed it.
''My fists work in a
symphony of violence.
“Don’t—” Punch.
“You—” The crunch of his nose breaking.
“Ever—” His wheezing scream.
“Speak—” I add a slap just to show him what a little bitch he is.
“To her like that again.” I backhand him as he screams more''
Honestly just don't ask questions, don't take it too seriously, and have some fun with this. Oh, and my man Jacques had me wheezing.
If you've read my last review, you'll notice that I'm sort of going through a MINK phase at the moment- and this book has just fueled the fire. I just found this book absolutely hilarious- like I honestly don't know if it was intentional, and that just makes it so much better . I mean, I feel like the fact that I read this book at 3 am probably helped its case, but I'm not complaining. The story was just so over the top and stupid- and I loved it so much. It was far from perfect and more than a little dodgy, but I genuinely enjoyed it.
''My fists work in a
symphony of violence.
“Don’t—” Punch.
“You—” The crunch of his nose breaking.
“Ever—” His wheezing scream.
“Speak—” I add a slap just to show him what a little bitch he is.
“To her like that again.” I backhand him as he screams more''
Honestly just don't ask questions, don't take it too seriously, and have some fun with this. Oh, and my man Jacques had me wheezing.
September 20, 2020
He's watched her silently stalking his prey. His plan is to destroy her, hurt her and make her suffer for the sins of her parents. Thats the plan. But when he gets his hands on Helen the last thing he's thinking of is hurting her.
Helen is adorable, she's quirky, she's sweet and clumsy. She's also about to kidnapped. But that won't stop our heroine or her sassy mouth.
Ajax our lead gets his revenge but he also gets the girl and the happily ever after that he didn't know he needed.
Its a non-stop ride of off the charts banter. An over the top grumpy Alpha and a guaranteed happily ever after with an epilogue that delivered in the feels.
I can't get enough of MINK!
Helen is adorable, she's quirky, she's sweet and clumsy. She's also about to kidnapped. But that won't stop our heroine or her sassy mouth.
Ajax our lead gets his revenge but he also gets the girl and the happily ever after that he didn't know he needed.
Its a non-stop ride of off the charts banter. An over the top grumpy Alpha and a guaranteed happily ever after with an epilogue that delivered in the feels.
I can't get enough of MINK!
December 10, 2020
3.5 stars
September 22, 2020
This author really loves cats 😂 there is a cat in all her books !
Loved this it was very good 👍 the epilogue was so cute .
Loved this it was very good 👍 the epilogue was so cute .
September 20, 2020
Darkest twist to Beauty and the Beast, it's gorgeously devious and tangy.
This novella takes the Stockholm syndrome to a high level of naughty bonding, vengeful kidnapping, evil villain turned to putty for the cat-loving heroine, and a redemption forged in scars, heated kisses, and violent endings.
It's superb fun if you enjoy insta-love between the forceful bad guy and the innocent damsel with a secret spine of steel. I loved all the parallelisms with the Disney story, but tinted with modern mafia vibes and a hot awakening for both characters. It starts quite darkly, and even though it never relents, love blooms between Ajax and Helen in exciting ways that finally turn sweet and freeing. There are even some fun notes thanks to a side character, the cute cat and the Beast's broodiness. Exhilarating.
This novella takes the Stockholm syndrome to a high level of naughty bonding, vengeful kidnapping, evil villain turned to putty for the cat-loving heroine, and a redemption forged in scars, heated kisses, and violent endings.
It's superb fun if you enjoy insta-love between the forceful bad guy and the innocent damsel with a secret spine of steel. I loved all the parallelisms with the Disney story, but tinted with modern mafia vibes and a hot awakening for both characters. It starts quite darkly, and even though it never relents, love blooms between Ajax and Helen in exciting ways that finally turn sweet and freeing. There are even some fun notes thanks to a side character, the cute cat and the Beast's broodiness. Exhilarating.
September 22, 2020
Ajax wants revenge on the family that took his away and left him scarred. The only way he sees to do that it to take the precious Helen and make her pay for what they’ve done. Only as he watches her, his plans start to change. As he stalks her, his cold heart starts to thaw. As he gets her in his house, he can’t remember what his original plan was after all. But when the past comes back to haunt them both, he will do everything in his power to make them pay to protect her.
-safe read
-dual virgins
-no om/ow drama
-no sexual abuse past or present
-epilogue a few months and then another few months
-safe read
-dual virgins
-no om/ow drama
-no sexual abuse past or present
-epilogue a few months and then another few months
September 21, 2020
Ajax and Helen
Ajax has revenge on his mind. Helen is trying to get through school and dodge an annoying roommate. Ajax gets more than he bargained for with Helen. Helen searches for her hero, and when she finds him, it’s not quite what she expected. Steamy, raw and a bit dark.
Ajax has revenge on his mind. Helen is trying to get through school and dodge an annoying roommate. Ajax gets more than he bargained for with Helen. Helen searches for her hero, and when she finds him, it’s not quite what she expected. Steamy, raw and a bit dark.
September 20, 2020
Beauty Tempts the Beast by MINK. This is the story of Ajax and Helen.
Ajax is seeking revenge on Helen's parents by taken her and of course hurting her. But Ajax can't seem to hurt her because it hurts him and his new feeling for her. This was a quick hot read. Enjoyed.
Ajax is seeking revenge on Helen's parents by taken her and of course hurting her. But Ajax can't seem to hurt her because it hurts him and his new feeling for her. This was a quick hot read. Enjoyed.
October 26, 2020
The build up was good and then the ending cut off... like ‘a month later’ does not satisfy my palette.
Mink, what happened there?
Mink, what happened there?
October 2, 2020
Mink is one of my favorite authors! I love protective, possessive, over the top heros! I also love that there is an adorable cat in all of her books 😁
Here's more about the book: Ajax needs revenge for what has been done to him. He is physically and emotionally scarred so he kidnaps Helen the daughter of the people who caused what happened to him. He thinks she must be terrible just like her parents and is in for some surprises. That is all I'm going to say, don't want to give any spoilers.
Here's more about the book: Ajax needs revenge for what has been done to him. He is physically and emotionally scarred so he kidnaps Helen the daughter of the people who caused what happened to him. He thinks she must be terrible just like her parents and is in for some surprises. That is all I'm going to say, don't want to give any spoilers.
October 24, 2020
Scarred, stalkerish hero who behaves like a creeper and a naive, lonely heroine. Sounds romantic, right? Not. I'm actually surprised by the high ratings considering that this book is so over the top and downright silly.
That said, I have actually read worse.
That said, I have actually read worse.
September 27, 2020
4.25 stars
July 1, 2021
DNF
Nothing wrong with the book, I'm just not in the mood for Stockholm syndrome right now
Nothing wrong with the book, I'm just not in the mood for Stockholm syndrome right now
September 28, 2020
Cute take on Beauty and the Beast
November 13, 2020
Gripping
Really interesting story with plenty of twists and turns. For such a short story I was pleasantly surprised by this.
Really interesting story with plenty of twists and turns. For such a short story I was pleasantly surprised by this.
September 29, 2022
Una historia rápida de leer, tributo a la Bella y la Bestia que se puede apreciar fácilmente.
Me encantó especialmente el epílogo.
Me encantó especialmente el epílogo.
August 16, 2023
3.5 stars
It's a fast-paced romance. Though we are not given much detail about the MMC. And the FMC seems pretty calm for someone who is being kidnapped.
It's a fast-paced romance. Though we are not given much detail about the MMC. And the FMC seems pretty calm for someone who is being kidnapped.
September 22, 2020
Loved loved loved this book. Did I mention that I loved it? It has kidnappings, violence, murder, love and a kitty! What more could you ask for?
September 22, 2020
I really can't understand the 5 stars. Please don't be fooled by them.
Sometime ago, I heard the recommendation that Mink writes such a great possessive alpha heros. But damn there is a line between creepy and possessive. This the first time I read her work, I don't how other works but this was uncomfortable. I only liked the cover.
Spoilers Ahead
- Right at the start we find out that H have set up camera in h's room because of his revenge or more like his taste for voyeurism.
- Heroine clearly states that won't date anyone pretty than her? What the hell woman? That's not how dating works. Annoying roommate wants the uptight heroine to to have sex to become less uptight?
-Heroine is on date with the guy her mom found and hero is few feet away in his car listening to them? Stalker much? He looks at the guy and decide that he is too soft, weak and can't satisfy Helen (our heroine). How do you know that you are a virgin yourself!!!!
- Then a moment later, h's date bodyshames her and suddenly H is there hauling him by the neck dragging across the street and beating him. Mind you no one dares to stop him. And our h? Well she starts having wet dreams about her hero who rescued her? Bitch what????? Fat shaming is wrong but you can't go on sending every jerk in the hospital for that.
- The hero is way too stalkerish, he even know what she would order.
- Next day at uni we have short man shaming, kinda by h's best friend. 'All the guys in the campus are short. You tall mystery man won't be hard to find.' Speaking of best friend, h's mom is annoying, so she suggest that maybe your mystery savior should punch her. Are you seeing the problem here?
-This girl is in continuous lust throughout the book. She gets kidnapped by H and hurt herself. Once she opens gets out of the trunk she hugs her kidnapper (thinking its a dream). Later, she happily gets in the front seat with him. Not a trace of panic in her. Like are you going to a picnic?
- H suddenly becomes clumsy after her kidnap. Injuries herself twice and hero look after her. She later thinks well he kidnapped but he wasn't the one who hurt me. Girl what is wrong with you!!!!
- Then there is a horrible monologue of hero of wanting or not wanting her in every chapter. At one point he punches the bathroom mirror. Heroine walks in and he starts stripping. Did she go away? No. She stands there and asks are you getting naked? God I can even... and that's not all inside of going out she just stands there and watch hero as he pleasure himself. Like that's not creepy at all. I feel like watching some kind of kidnapping porn.
-Then a butler barges in the same bathroom and announces dinner? Is there no concept of knocking here?
- At that pointing I was just skimming. But I did see more stupid scenes. Like heroine freaking out that hero's plan was to kill her. Bitch what else did you think? A trip to disneyland. HE KIDNAPPED YOU. But not to worry they had been licking each others faces throughout, so few moments later he apologized. That's right the kidnapper apologizes! And they are kissing again.
- The girl is so dumb that in the beginning hero told her she was kidnapped because of her family, so when he tells his whole back story, she had audacity to be shocked when he says your family did this to me.
- Anyway, she gets kidnapped on her parents order by the end and is throwing tantrum. He didn't take me away by force and all the symptoms of stokholm syndrome. But who cares, she gets rescued (or re-kidnapped), marries and have kids. Happy ending.
For the love of something stop glorifying kidnapping by giving sob stories to hero. Plus he could have hired his goons to kidnap her (they set up the camera in her room too) if he was so adamant about her revenge or better yet, kidnap the parents!
Sometime ago, I heard the recommendation that Mink writes such a great possessive alpha heros. But damn there is a line between creepy and possessive. This the first time I read her work, I don't how other works but this was uncomfortable. I only liked the cover.
Spoilers Ahead
- Right at the start we find out that H have set up camera in h's room because of his revenge or more like his taste for voyeurism.
- Heroine clearly states that won't date anyone pretty than her? What the hell woman? That's not how dating works. Annoying roommate wants the uptight heroine to to have sex to become less uptight?
-Heroine is on date with the guy her mom found and hero is few feet away in his car listening to them? Stalker much? He looks at the guy and decide that he is too soft, weak and can't satisfy Helen (our heroine). How do you know that you are a virgin yourself!!!!
- Then a moment later, h's date bodyshames her and suddenly H is there hauling him by the neck dragging across the street and beating him. Mind you no one dares to stop him. And our h? Well she starts having wet dreams about her hero who rescued her? Bitch what????? Fat shaming is wrong but you can't go on sending every jerk in the hospital for that.
- The hero is way too stalkerish, he even know what she would order.
- Next day at uni we have short man shaming, kinda by h's best friend. 'All the guys in the campus are short. You tall mystery man won't be hard to find.' Speaking of best friend, h's mom is annoying, so she suggest that maybe your mystery savior should punch her. Are you seeing the problem here?
-This girl is in continuous lust throughout the book. She gets kidnapped by H and hurt herself. Once she opens gets out of the trunk she hugs her kidnapper (thinking its a dream). Later, she happily gets in the front seat with him. Not a trace of panic in her. Like are you going to a picnic?
- H suddenly becomes clumsy after her kidnap. Injuries herself twice and hero look after her. She later thinks well he kidnapped but he wasn't the one who hurt me. Girl what is wrong with you!!!!
- Then there is a horrible monologue of hero of wanting or not wanting her in every chapter. At one point he punches the bathroom mirror. Heroine walks in and he starts stripping. Did she go away? No. She stands there and asks are you getting naked? God I can even... and that's not all inside of going out she just stands there and watch hero as he pleasure himself. Like that's not creepy at all. I feel like watching some kind of kidnapping porn.
-Then a butler barges in the same bathroom and announces dinner? Is there no concept of knocking here?
- At that pointing I was just skimming. But I did see more stupid scenes. Like heroine freaking out that hero's plan was to kill her. Bitch what else did you think? A trip to disneyland. HE KIDNAPPED YOU. But not to worry they had been licking each others faces throughout, so few moments later he apologized. That's right the kidnapper apologizes! And they are kissing again.
- The girl is so dumb that in the beginning hero told her she was kidnapped because of her family, so when he tells his whole back story, she had audacity to be shocked when he says your family did this to me.
- Anyway, she gets kidnapped on her parents order by the end and is throwing tantrum. He didn't take me away by force and all the symptoms of stokholm syndrome. But who cares, she gets rescued (or re-kidnapped), marries and have kids. Happy ending.
For the love of something stop glorifying kidnapping by giving sob stories to hero. Plus he could have hired his goons to kidnap her (they set up the camera in her room too) if he was so adamant about her revenge or better yet, kidnap the parents!
October 26, 2020
Tempting the Beast by MINK
HERO - Ajax. Wealthy criminal. Tall and muscular with burn scars down one side of his face and body.
HEROINE - Helen Carrigan. College student. Curvy with blonde hair and blue eyes.
OVERALL THOUGHTS - Oh boy, where I do I start with this one? Let’s go with what I liked. I thought Ajax’s thirst for Helen’s blood while at the same time feeling protective of her was amusing. I liked Helen’s friendship with Lily. I liked the Signature Cat, Fuzzy. I found Helen’s ability to take her kidnapping in stride to be admirable. Ajax’s interactions with Jacques were pretty funny...yeah, that’s about it!
My first problem with the story is that Ajax is very one-note. As you can see above, he is very vaguely described and the one thing emphasized about him time and again is his scars. That’s all the author amounts him to. The heroine learns his name off-page during a one-week time jump and doesn’t even say it until around 60%. Until then, he’s just the beast. I get that the theme is supposed to be just that - the beauty and her beast - but damn. Give the guy some respect and dignity. We never even learn his last name, or his age, or his likes and dislikes. It’s just scars and revenge. There’s no depth there. That’s why I liked a couple of his interactions with Jacques because it showed very brief glimpses of something, anything, else. Also, what does this man do for work on an average day? All he kept saying was that he was a bad man and does bad things, which tells me nothing. He has to be making money somehow.
My next issue is with the heroine. I said that I admired her ability to take the kidnapping in stride, but she also seems to have zero concern for her safety at times. It’s only after she hears him outright say he wants to torture and kill her that she realizes that oh yeah, she’s being held captive. I also thought it was really strange that it wasn’t until she was kidnapped that she suddenly started being clumsy. I feel like that should have been established as part of her character from the get-go. For most of the story she’s a sweet girl, but man, did she turn brutal in the end when she told Ajax to . I wanted to know more about her - what year of school was she in? What was her major? What did she want to do with her life? Again, her character, like Ajax's, was one-note.
While I enjoyed Helen’s brief interaction with her friend Lily, the girl disappeared from the story after she served her purpose. She’s finally mentioned in passing again toward the end, but we never get another scene with her. I’m not a fan of when authors introduce characters and just drop them with no explanation. There’s a couple of time jumps in the story, one week and then later, another two months. We find out in passing that Helen’s kept in touch with Lily during that time, but I feel like it would have been fun to get a scene of Helen giving Lily the lowdown on finding her “hero”.
Also, take heed of the fact that Ajax talks about killing a lot during this story because the ending is pretty dark. . I mean...I wasn’t expecting all that. I’d definitely characterize this story as “dark fluff” which, to me, means it’s a dark romance without any harm coming to the heroine by the hero. For example, he kidnaps her, but causes her no physical harm.
The epilogue is vague, timeline-wise. It’s an HEA, don’t worry, but we’re not told how far in the future we’re seeing. There’s no mention of whether he’s still involved in killing or whatever it was that he used to do for money. Did she graduate? Is she working? The story’s just vague on details from start to finish. ~SIGH~
SAFETY
HERO - Ajax. Wealthy criminal. Tall and muscular with burn scars down one side of his face and body.
HEROINE - Helen Carrigan. College student. Curvy with blonde hair and blue eyes.
OVERALL THOUGHTS - Oh boy, where I do I start with this one? Let’s go with what I liked. I thought Ajax’s thirst for Helen’s blood while at the same time feeling protective of her was amusing. I liked Helen’s friendship with Lily. I liked the Signature Cat, Fuzzy. I found Helen’s ability to take her kidnapping in stride to be admirable. Ajax’s interactions with Jacques were pretty funny...yeah, that’s about it!
My first problem with the story is that Ajax is very one-note. As you can see above, he is very vaguely described and the one thing emphasized about him time and again is his scars. That’s all the author amounts him to. The heroine learns his name off-page during a one-week time jump and doesn’t even say it until around 60%. Until then, he’s just the beast. I get that the theme is supposed to be just that - the beauty and her beast - but damn. Give the guy some respect and dignity. We never even learn his last name, or his age, or his likes and dislikes. It’s just scars and revenge. There’s no depth there. That’s why I liked a couple of his interactions with Jacques because it showed very brief glimpses of something, anything, else. Also, what does this man do for work on an average day? All he kept saying was that he was a bad man and does bad things, which tells me nothing. He has to be making money somehow.
My next issue is with the heroine. I said that I admired her ability to take the kidnapping in stride, but she also seems to have zero concern for her safety at times. It’s only after she hears him outright say he wants to torture and kill her that she realizes that oh yeah, she’s being held captive. I also thought it was really strange that it wasn’t until she was kidnapped that she suddenly started being clumsy. I feel like that should have been established as part of her character from the get-go. For most of the story she’s a sweet girl, but man, did she turn brutal in the end when she told Ajax to . I wanted to know more about her - what year of school was she in? What was her major? What did she want to do with her life? Again, her character, like Ajax's, was one-note.
While I enjoyed Helen’s brief interaction with her friend Lily, the girl disappeared from the story after she served her purpose. She’s finally mentioned in passing again toward the end, but we never get another scene with her. I’m not a fan of when authors introduce characters and just drop them with no explanation. There’s a couple of time jumps in the story, one week and then later, another two months. We find out in passing that Helen’s kept in touch with Lily during that time, but I feel like it would have been fun to get a scene of Helen giving Lily the lowdown on finding her “hero”.
Also, take heed of the fact that Ajax talks about killing a lot during this story because the ending is pretty dark. . I mean...I wasn’t expecting all that. I’d definitely characterize this story as “dark fluff” which, to me, means it’s a dark romance without any harm coming to the heroine by the hero. For example, he kidnaps her, but causes her no physical harm.
The epilogue is vague, timeline-wise. It’s an HEA, don’t worry, but we’re not told how far in the future we’re seeing. There’s no mention of whether he’s still involved in killing or whatever it was that he used to do for money. Did she graduate? Is she working? The story’s just vague on details from start to finish. ~SIGH~
SAFETY
May 6, 2023
Beauty Tempts the Beast
HERO /HEROINE Helen has been rich her entire life. Her mother and father took care of her, shoved money at her, kept her a beautiful, pretty doll. Now that she’s in college she comes into her own and has tried distancing herself from them. She’s on a mission to be the best version of herself NOT her parents' beautiful daughter.
Ajax carries the scars of his past in his heart and on his face. When he was 18, his parents and him went up in flames by a rival family. He crawled his way out and vowed to destroy the people who destroyed him. Revenge leads his life and it’s done well for him. It’s only when he sets his targets on Helen, the daughter of the family who harmed him, does his revenge take a step back, and lets his heart lead the way.
REPRESENTATION
OVERALL THOUGHTS So friggin cute. I was giggling every time Ajax was trying his hardest to be big and mean and he ended up just doing sweet things for Helen and her cat Fuzzy instead. “I’m going to hurt you something terrible while she cries and begs me to stop.” I take another piece of salmon and give it to him. After all, he’s my prisoner. Nothing wrong with fattening him up before I strike the death blow. After two more pieces, he jumps onto my bed and curls up at the foot, tucking his tail under his chin as he closes his eyes. ‘This is my bed.” I point a finger at him. He doesn’t look at me. “Cat,” I say in a warning tone. “Get out of here.” His only reply—a faint kitty snore. I put my hands on my hips and look up at the dark ceiling. What a fucking mess.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE I was confused about the whole previous kidnapping story when Helen was thirteen. Was it the parents doing? Who sent the rose? The mom or the person who kidnapped her when she was younger? If it was explained, I read over it I guess. Would have loved to know who sent the rose! It was so random and I was like, oooo a new player?
FAVORITE QUOTES: “I don’t want to be let go. The best day of my life was when you shoved me into that trunk.” I smile. He smiles. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
SAFETY
AGE: I think Helen is a freshman, she’s still living in dorms, so i’m assuming 18 or 19 and i think Ajax may be in his early 20s. It’s never mentioned what their current ages are or how much time has passed since both of their traumas.
SEXUAL HISTORY: Dual virgins BABY YEAH
CONDOMS: Nope
HEAT LEVEL: 3/5 This was sweet. Lots of chase play. Throat play. Loss of Virginity. Anal play, oral.
PUSH/PULL: Ajax was pushing Helen away for a little bit but it didn’t last long.
SEPARATION: Helen was kidnapped.
CHEATING: No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: OM, Helen went on a blind date in the beginning of the book and he became trouble.
SEX SCENE WITH OW/OM: No
ABUSE: Parental neglect, parental emotional abuse. past/present kidnapping/torture (locked in a closet for a good amount of days)
POSSIBLE PET PEEVES/TRIGGERS scarring, kidnapping, violence, blood, graphic kill scenes, death of loved ones, murder, stalking
HEA/HFN: HEA
HERO /HEROINE Helen has been rich her entire life. Her mother and father took care of her, shoved money at her, kept her a beautiful, pretty doll. Now that she’s in college she comes into her own and has tried distancing herself from them. She’s on a mission to be the best version of herself NOT her parents' beautiful daughter.
Ajax carries the scars of his past in his heart and on his face. When he was 18, his parents and him went up in flames by a rival family. He crawled his way out and vowed to destroy the people who destroyed him. Revenge leads his life and it’s done well for him. It’s only when he sets his targets on Helen, the daughter of the family who harmed him, does his revenge take a step back, and lets his heart lead the way.
REPRESENTATION
OVERALL THOUGHTS So friggin cute. I was giggling every time Ajax was trying his hardest to be big and mean and he ended up just doing sweet things for Helen and her cat Fuzzy instead. “I’m going to hurt you something terrible while she cries and begs me to stop.” I take another piece of salmon and give it to him. After all, he’s my prisoner. Nothing wrong with fattening him up before I strike the death blow. After two more pieces, he jumps onto my bed and curls up at the foot, tucking his tail under his chin as he closes his eyes. ‘This is my bed.” I point a finger at him. He doesn’t look at me. “Cat,” I say in a warning tone. “Get out of here.” His only reply—a faint kitty snore. I put my hands on my hips and look up at the dark ceiling. What a fucking mess.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE I was confused about the whole previous kidnapping story when Helen was thirteen. Was it the parents doing? Who sent the rose? The mom or the person who kidnapped her when she was younger? If it was explained, I read over it I guess. Would have loved to know who sent the rose! It was so random and I was like, oooo a new player?
FAVORITE QUOTES: “I don’t want to be let go. The best day of my life was when you shoved me into that trunk.” I smile. He smiles. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
SAFETY
AGE: I think Helen is a freshman, she’s still living in dorms, so i’m assuming 18 or 19 and i think Ajax may be in his early 20s. It’s never mentioned what their current ages are or how much time has passed since both of their traumas.
SEXUAL HISTORY: Dual virgins BABY YEAH
CONDOMS: Nope
HEAT LEVEL: 3/5 This was sweet. Lots of chase play. Throat play. Loss of Virginity. Anal play, oral.
PUSH/PULL: Ajax was pushing Helen away for a little bit but it didn’t last long.
SEPARATION: Helen was kidnapped.
CHEATING: No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: OM, Helen went on a blind date in the beginning of the book and he became trouble.
SEX SCENE WITH OW/OM: No
ABUSE: Parental neglect, parental emotional abuse. past/present kidnapping/torture (locked in a closet for a good amount of days)
POSSIBLE PET PEEVES/TRIGGERS scarring, kidnapping, violence, blood, graphic kill scenes, death of loved ones, murder, stalking
HEA/HFN: HEA
August 31, 2021
A Darker, More Sinister Take on the Beauty and the Beast Trope...
I have been gorging on Mink’s books the last couple of weeks after being intrigued by a few of her story shorts. And so far I am finding her work to be sexy, angst filled twists on fairly typical romance book themes, and “Beauty Tempts the Beast” is a great example of the darker, more violent and taboo themed sensibility that I have quickly come to crave.
This one is another interpretation of Beauty and the Beast trope by Mink, one of several different beast infused tales this author has written. Here she gives us the story of Ajax and Helen, Ajax being a man brutally assaulted and left scarred as a child. A man who was forced to watch his parents die at the hands of greed and corruption, and subsequently spends his entire life since that fateful day plotting revenge against the husband and wife team responsible for his childhood horrors. Now year later, he is a bitter and angry man, one planning on kidnapping, torturing, and ultimately killing the child of his perpetrators as payback, methodically stalking their daughter, waiting for the perfect moment to trigger his trap and exact his revenge. And the intended target herself, Helen, a young woman about to graduate college and trying to distance herself from her heartless, controlling mother. A woman who unbeknownst to Ajax, has also suffered at her parent’s hands and is completely unlike them, instead being a kind and caring woman who loathes her family’s actions and would prefer to not ever be linked with them in any way.
What follows is a lightning fast paced, suspense filled, emotional rollercoaster of a story. One in which we see Ajax struggle to come to terms with how his anger and hatred has twisted his very soul and tainted the man he has become, blinding him to the truth before him. And in equal measure watch Helen's desperate attempts to not only prove to him that she is not her parents, but also come to terms with the truth of how horrible her parents actually are (something she has always suspected but never confronted).
It is a gripping, gasp inducing story that, while still being fairly over-the-top and simplistic in its telling, is far more intense and emotionally sophisticated than her other beauty and the beast themed tales. It is a violently passionate ride from start to finish. One that will definitely tug at your heart strings and make you ache for all that both of these characters have been through, ultimately leading you to cheer at the end result regardless of how gruesome it is. And it is vicious, so for those who are easily triggered or faint of heart, well, you might want to skip this one. Although I promise you it is worth every ounce of violence contained within. As this story will hold your attention hostage from start to finish as you witness both Ajax and Helen navigate the intense physical and emotional turmoil that surrounds them.
This one by far has been the best interpretation of this oft-overused story trope I have seen yet by this author. It is more sophisticated, much more compelling in plot and emotional complexity, and entrancing.
I have been gorging on Mink’s books the last couple of weeks after being intrigued by a few of her story shorts. And so far I am finding her work to be sexy, angst filled twists on fairly typical romance book themes, and “Beauty Tempts the Beast” is a great example of the darker, more violent and taboo themed sensibility that I have quickly come to crave.
This one is another interpretation of Beauty and the Beast trope by Mink, one of several different beast infused tales this author has written. Here she gives us the story of Ajax and Helen, Ajax being a man brutally assaulted and left scarred as a child. A man who was forced to watch his parents die at the hands of greed and corruption, and subsequently spends his entire life since that fateful day plotting revenge against the husband and wife team responsible for his childhood horrors. Now year later, he is a bitter and angry man, one planning on kidnapping, torturing, and ultimately killing the child of his perpetrators as payback, methodically stalking their daughter, waiting for the perfect moment to trigger his trap and exact his revenge. And the intended target herself, Helen, a young woman about to graduate college and trying to distance herself from her heartless, controlling mother. A woman who unbeknownst to Ajax, has also suffered at her parent’s hands and is completely unlike them, instead being a kind and caring woman who loathes her family’s actions and would prefer to not ever be linked with them in any way.
What follows is a lightning fast paced, suspense filled, emotional rollercoaster of a story. One in which we see Ajax struggle to come to terms with how his anger and hatred has twisted his very soul and tainted the man he has become, blinding him to the truth before him. And in equal measure watch Helen's desperate attempts to not only prove to him that she is not her parents, but also come to terms with the truth of how horrible her parents actually are (something she has always suspected but never confronted).
It is a gripping, gasp inducing story that, while still being fairly over-the-top and simplistic in its telling, is far more intense and emotionally sophisticated than her other beauty and the beast themed tales. It is a violently passionate ride from start to finish. One that will definitely tug at your heart strings and make you ache for all that both of these characters have been through, ultimately leading you to cheer at the end result regardless of how gruesome it is. And it is vicious, so for those who are easily triggered or faint of heart, well, you might want to skip this one. Although I promise you it is worth every ounce of violence contained within. As this story will hold your attention hostage from start to finish as you witness both Ajax and Helen navigate the intense physical and emotional turmoil that surrounds them.
This one by far has been the best interpretation of this oft-overused story trope I have seen yet by this author. It is more sophisticated, much more compelling in plot and emotional complexity, and entrancing.
September 9, 2024
s h e l v e s :
alpha
captive x captor
curvy heroine
fat shaming (mother)
grump
he falls first
instalove
mafia
marshmallow softie
modern retelling
moves her in
obsessed
ott
possessive
princess treatment pampering
protective
rich hero
takes care of her
virgins (both)
e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ little one
i n k s :
against the wall
cums in his pants
dry humping
hot bj
no condom
praise
tss
e n d i n g :
HEA + babies!
🔥
alpha
captive x captor
curvy heroine
fat shaming (mother)
grump
he falls first
instalove
mafia
marshmallow softie
modern retelling
moves her in
obsessed
ott
possessive
princess treatment pampering
protective
rich hero
takes care of her
virgins (both)
e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ little one
i n k s :
against the wall
cums in his pants
dry humping
hot bj
no condom
praise
tss
e n d i n g :
HEA + babies!
🔥
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews