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Anchor Me #7
Leo
Leo: I hide in my Vermont cottage so nobody can see me.
I’ve seen the stares. I read their contemplation in their inquisitive expressions–how did I get those scars?
I refuse to spend the holidays with my parents as I'll bring everyone down. Worried about me, they send a caretaker. That's not going to happen. I’ll turn her away at my front door..
When Rosanna arrives, she’s not the matron I expect. She’s young, pretty and curvy. And she comes with food to prepare dinner.
Hmm, it's been a long time since I had a homecooked meal. Maybe I can tolerate her here for just one night.
Rosanna: I’ll do anything to avoid spending another Christmas with my stepfamily and this temporary job gives me an excuse.
When I arrive at the remote stone cottage in the woods, I’m stopped by a man with a scarred face and deep scowl. Leo turns me away. He didn’t agree to this arrangement.
I don’t have a backup plan. What am I going to do?
Fortunately, the groceries I brought to prepare dinner buy me some time. Leo agrees to let me cook for him (how generous) and to stay for one night.
Only we’re hit with more snow than expected, and I'm stuck there if I don't want to freeze to death.
Leo will let me stay on one condition–never enter his studio.
If you like grumpy / sunshine, wounded heroes, dark secrets, and lost souls finding each other in romance, you'll love escaping into Leo and Rosanna’s story!
I’ve seen the stares. I read their contemplation in their inquisitive expressions–how did I get those scars?
I refuse to spend the holidays with my parents as I'll bring everyone down. Worried about me, they send a caretaker. That's not going to happen. I’ll turn her away at my front door..
When Rosanna arrives, she’s not the matron I expect. She’s young, pretty and curvy. And she comes with food to prepare dinner.
Hmm, it's been a long time since I had a homecooked meal. Maybe I can tolerate her here for just one night.
Rosanna: I’ll do anything to avoid spending another Christmas with my stepfamily and this temporary job gives me an excuse.
When I arrive at the remote stone cottage in the woods, I’m stopped by a man with a scarred face and deep scowl. Leo turns me away. He didn’t agree to this arrangement.
I don’t have a backup plan. What am I going to do?
Fortunately, the groceries I brought to prepare dinner buy me some time. Leo agrees to let me cook for him (how generous) and to stay for one night.
Only we’re hit with more snow than expected, and I'm stuck there if I don't want to freeze to death.
Leo will let me stay on one condition–never enter his studio.
If you like grumpy / sunshine, wounded heroes, dark secrets, and lost souls finding each other in romance, you'll love escaping into Leo and Rosanna’s story!
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2022
446 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Carlisle
154 books594 followersUSA Today bestselling author Lisa Carlisle loves stories with dark, brooding heroes or quirky outcasts. Her romances have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Reviews and The Romance Reviews.
When she was younger, she worked in a variety of jobs, moving to various countries. She was stationed in Okinawa while in the Marines, backpacked alone through Europe, and worked in Paris before returning to the U.S. She owned a bookstore for a few years as she loves to read. She’s married with two kids, two cats, and too many fish.
When she was younger, she worked in a variety of jobs, moving to various countries. She was stationed in Okinawa while in the Marines, backpacked alone through Europe, and worked in Paris before returning to the U.S. She owned a bookstore for a few years as she loves to read. She’s married with two kids, two cats, and too many fish.
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April 9, 2023
Leo: A Beauty and the Beast inspired Navy Seal Romance is a stand alone holiday romance by Lisa Carlisle.
Leo Ricci, who is just short of thirty years old, spent ten years in the military as a Navy Seal. Then it happened. An accident that left him deeply scarred both on the outside and the inside. To make it worse, he can’t remember the actual event that left him this way. He is plagued with survivor’s guilt, nightmares and darkness. He is staying at his family’s remote cabin in the mountains of Vermont only his mother worries about how he is doing up there all by himself. So she hires someone to spend the holidays with him to do some cooking and to help him out.
Rosanna Carreiro is finishing grad school with her degree in creative writing. She has a huge writing assignment that she has to complete in order to graduate but has had trouble finding a topic. The last place she wants to spend Christmas is with her father and her step mom and step sisters. She just never felt like she fit in with them. So when she was offered the job traveling to Vermont to care of someone over Christmas, it was perfect for her. Only when she arrived, the person she was supposed to be helping out did not want her there.
When Leo agrees to let Rosanna stay just one night since she arrived with groceries for dinner, she agrees. This turns into three nights which soon turns into longer. These two both needed each other in ways they hadn’t realized. They became friends and then became more. But Leo asked Rosanna to promise him one thing only, and it’s a promise she broke.
Leo is still dealing with the psychological and physical aspects of his healing. He doesn’t feel like he is worthy anymore. That he can be what any woman would want. Rosanna has struggled to find her own place in the world as well. Still clinging to memories of her own mother while not fitting in with her new family. Together these two find what they were missing but Leo has so much he has to figure out before he can open his heart.
This was a sweet, sexy holiday story that was heart warming. I did enjoy seeing these two open up to each other and fill the emptiness both were living with. I don’t enjoy push away and Leo’s constant push and pull did bother me some but I did understand why he was doing it. This was my first book by this author so I look forward to checking through her library.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Leo Ricci, who is just short of thirty years old, spent ten years in the military as a Navy Seal. Then it happened. An accident that left him deeply scarred both on the outside and the inside. To make it worse, he can’t remember the actual event that left him this way. He is plagued with survivor’s guilt, nightmares and darkness. He is staying at his family’s remote cabin in the mountains of Vermont only his mother worries about how he is doing up there all by himself. So she hires someone to spend the holidays with him to do some cooking and to help him out.
Rosanna Carreiro is finishing grad school with her degree in creative writing. She has a huge writing assignment that she has to complete in order to graduate but has had trouble finding a topic. The last place she wants to spend Christmas is with her father and her step mom and step sisters. She just never felt like she fit in with them. So when she was offered the job traveling to Vermont to care of someone over Christmas, it was perfect for her. Only when she arrived, the person she was supposed to be helping out did not want her there.
When Leo agrees to let Rosanna stay just one night since she arrived with groceries for dinner, she agrees. This turns into three nights which soon turns into longer. These two both needed each other in ways they hadn’t realized. They became friends and then became more. But Leo asked Rosanna to promise him one thing only, and it’s a promise she broke.
Leo is still dealing with the psychological and physical aspects of his healing. He doesn’t feel like he is worthy anymore. That he can be what any woman would want. Rosanna has struggled to find her own place in the world as well. Still clinging to memories of her own mother while not fitting in with her new family. Together these two find what they were missing but Leo has so much he has to figure out before he can open his heart.
This was a sweet, sexy holiday story that was heart warming. I did enjoy seeing these two open up to each other and fill the emptiness both were living with. I don’t enjoy push away and Leo’s constant push and pull did bother me some but I did understand why he was doing it. This was my first book by this author so I look forward to checking through her library.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
December 9, 2022
The second star is me being generous...
In actuality, this was totally a 1-star caliber story to me and it still kind of is. But given that at the very LEAST it didn't read like some trashy sex-romp, I feel like it deserved an extra star. That certainly doesn't mean there's quality material here. Far from it, actually. Hardly anything of substance happens here. There's no meat to the bones. Everything comes across as very bland, from character-growth to the romance angle to the SEAL element to even the inspiration from Beauty and the Beast.
This thing is just barely like Beauty and the Beast. I certainly wasn't expecting an all-out replica, but I was hoping it wouldn't be so generic a rendition either. It's similar enough, I suppose, what with the hero (Leo) periodically calling himself a 'beast' in his own head and the heroine (Rosanna) being beautiful (and curvy, can't forget curvy). And sure, Leo is grumpy with a bad scar from his SEAL days (something that is minimally explored) that forces himself to seal himself away from the world until Rosanna gets him out of his shell and... blah, blah, blah.
The story is just so minimalistic. Oftentimes all that seems to happen is Rosanna and Leo spending their time eating and games/physical activity, and then repeating. Sure, there are other things that happen, but nothing that stood out as much as eating. And playing games. Much of the inner monologuing of both characters is whiny, repetitive, and often too similar in format. Both Leo and Rosanna CONSTANTLY ask themselves mental questions again, and again, and again. It makes the entirety of this story feel like the petals being peeled off a flower: He loves me, he loves me not.
There's a lot of back and forth and back again, things that seemed to or should have had meaning being stated to merely fill up the pages. For example, when the characters finally admit to loving one another, it takes one of them the next chapter to respond with a thumping heart, "You love me?" as if hearing it for the first time. Um, hello? I remember notating in my Kindle that said character must have the memory of a goldfish. It also doesn't help that monologues such as these are the norm of this story:
Like seriously, dude? She's already MORE than chosen you (which you've acknowledged) and yet, you're still going back to the 'woe is me route?' Sigh. That stuff got old fast.
At any rate, despite the book being an easy read (way too easy a read), there was simply nothing compelling or exciting about it. It's very simplistic and has its big doses of sex scenes, so it's likely perfect for a certain type of reader. I'm just not one of them.
In actuality, this was totally a 1-star caliber story to me and it still kind of is. But given that at the very LEAST it didn't read like some trashy sex-romp, I feel like it deserved an extra star. That certainly doesn't mean there's quality material here. Far from it, actually. Hardly anything of substance happens here. There's no meat to the bones. Everything comes across as very bland, from character-growth to the romance angle to the SEAL element to even the inspiration from Beauty and the Beast.
This thing is just barely like Beauty and the Beast. I certainly wasn't expecting an all-out replica, but I was hoping it wouldn't be so generic a rendition either. It's similar enough, I suppose, what with the hero (Leo) periodically calling himself a 'beast' in his own head and the heroine (Rosanna) being beautiful (and curvy, can't forget curvy). And sure, Leo is grumpy with a bad scar from his SEAL days (something that is minimally explored) that forces himself to seal himself away from the world until Rosanna gets him out of his shell and... blah, blah, blah.
The story is just so minimalistic. Oftentimes all that seems to happen is Rosanna and Leo spending their time eating and games/physical activity, and then repeating. Sure, there are other things that happen, but nothing that stood out as much as eating. And playing games. Much of the inner monologuing of both characters is whiny, repetitive, and often too similar in format. Both Leo and Rosanna CONSTANTLY ask themselves mental questions again, and again, and again. It makes the entirety of this story feel like the petals being peeled off a flower: He loves me, he loves me not.
There's a lot of back and forth and back again, things that seemed to or should have had meaning being stated to merely fill up the pages. For example, when the characters finally admit to loving one another, it takes one of them the next chapter to respond with a thumping heart, "You love me?" as if hearing it for the first time. Um, hello? I remember notating in my Kindle that said character must have the memory of a goldfish. It also doesn't help that monologues such as these are the norm of this story:
What kind of fool was I to resist this goddess who wanted me for some mysterious reason?
People hurt you when they left. And they always left in the end. I pushed Rosanna away before she rejected me.
Like seriously, dude? She's already MORE than chosen you (which you've acknowledged) and yet, you're still going back to the 'woe is me route?' Sigh. That stuff got old fast.
At any rate, despite the book being an easy read (way too easy a read), there was simply nothing compelling or exciting about it. It's very simplistic and has its big doses of sex scenes, so it's likely perfect for a certain type of reader. I'm just not one of them.
November 19, 2022
Wow!! “Leo: A Beauty and the Beast-inspired Navy SEAL Romance” is wonderful! Ms. Carlisle has brought it once again, with her latest romantic must read :) Another page-turner right from the start! I love these stories where the H/h fight their chemistry at first, then finally give in to a HEA! ... Leo & Rosanna are so relatable with clever dialogue and a fresh new storyline... I was fortunate to be able to read this thru my Amazon KU subscription! I am so hooked on this author’s books, and can honestly recommend this to Adult fans of fiction and I can’t wait for more;)
December 2, 2022
To start, I strongly dislike 1st person POV. I find that technique to be akin to reading a series of hastily written, overly descriptive and repetitive diary entries with too much self-talk and not enough story. The flow is missing and the shifting perspectives are hard to follow at times.
This particular offering reads like it was written by someone in their early 20's. The plot was okay but the dialog was stilted as though the character/author was trying to sound more educated than they are. In my experiences, no one speaks like these characters. Phrases like 'I promised not to do so' and word choices like 'rumination' add an odd and inappropriate formality to the work. Plot points were unnecessarily repeated by both characters, often in the same chapter, as though the author was trying to reach a word count and was out of ideas. Wash, rinse and repeat.
In addition to needing a good editing, this work is not nearly as good as what this author has produced in the past. I struggled to get through and considered making this a DNF more than once. It makes me wonder whether the author is trying to appeal to a younger audience or if she has a young adult writer using her account.
This particular offering reads like it was written by someone in their early 20's. The plot was okay but the dialog was stilted as though the character/author was trying to sound more educated than they are. In my experiences, no one speaks like these characters. Phrases like 'I promised not to do so' and word choices like 'rumination' add an odd and inappropriate formality to the work. Plot points were unnecessarily repeated by both characters, often in the same chapter, as though the author was trying to reach a word count and was out of ideas. Wash, rinse and repeat.
In addition to needing a good editing, this work is not nearly as good as what this author has produced in the past. I struggled to get through and considered making this a DNF more than once. It makes me wonder whether the author is trying to appeal to a younger audience or if she has a young adult writer using her account.
December 3, 2022
I wanted to love this book. I really did. It just didn’t grab me. I don’t know how to describe it, but if I am not “lost” in a book by the 3rd chapter, then I just cannot read it. It was just very stilted in the conversation to me.
January 6, 2023
If you need an idea & feel like being snowed in with a couple of hotties, I highly recommend Leo!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
This book felt like a combo retelling—Cinderella & the Beast (instead of Beauty and the Beast). With a sprinkle of holiday vibes—not enough to keep you from reading it now.
Thank you @lisacarlisle for the free copy of your book and the chance to give my candid review.
Two highlights I made on the Kindle App:
• I called Mitch and asked if he could come by this morning. “Definitely not the morning,” he replied with a grunt. “And possibly not today. The snow’s going to keep coming down all day. We had much more than expected, and I’ve been plowing for much of the night. Unless there’s an emergency, then I’ll figure something out.” I grimaced. Could I consider getting a sexy little busybody out of my space an emergency? Nope.
• “If you’re going to stay here, Rosanna, you can’t go into that room.” Her mouth dropped open. She cocked her head. “You’re not serious?” “I’m dead serious.”
This is not a normal review for me. I read it while gone at my parents’ on Christmas break, while my husband had Influenza A & was a hacking up a lung every two minutes. I was highly stressed and extremely low on sleep. Leo and Rosanna kept me happy and sane for a couple of looooong nights. I have no notes and only those two highlights. Darn it! But I loved it. If the blurb works on you, I highly recommend it!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
This book felt like a combo retelling—Cinderella & the Beast (instead of Beauty and the Beast). With a sprinkle of holiday vibes—not enough to keep you from reading it now.
Thank you @lisacarlisle for the free copy of your book and the chance to give my candid review.
Two highlights I made on the Kindle App:
• I called Mitch and asked if he could come by this morning. “Definitely not the morning,” he replied with a grunt. “And possibly not today. The snow’s going to keep coming down all day. We had much more than expected, and I’ve been plowing for much of the night. Unless there’s an emergency, then I’ll figure something out.” I grimaced. Could I consider getting a sexy little busybody out of my space an emergency? Nope.
• “If you’re going to stay here, Rosanna, you can’t go into that room.” Her mouth dropped open. She cocked her head. “You’re not serious?” “I’m dead serious.”
This is not a normal review for me. I read it while gone at my parents’ on Christmas break, while my husband had Influenza A & was a hacking up a lung every two minutes. I was highly stressed and extremely low on sleep. Leo and Rosanna kept me happy and sane for a couple of looooong nights. I have no notes and only those two highlights. Darn it! But I loved it. If the blurb works on you, I highly recommend it!
November 23, 2022
Rosanna Carreiro has arranged a job for the Christmas holidays, to avoid having to go home to her dad’s and share any time with her stepmother and her daughters, who put her down at every opportunity. Her accommodation at college is term time only, so this is the perfect set up. A mother wants a caretaker for her son, a wounded Navy SEAL, who she is worried isn’t looking after himself properly and has refused to come home for the holidays, believing he will only ruin them for everyone else by being down. Leo Ricci has scars on one side of his body, from the IED that exploded near him, killing two of his fellow soldiers. The scars on the left side of his face extend down to his lips, pulling his face into a somewhat scary expression if he tried to smile, which he no longer does very often. He is content to hide away in his parent’s cabin in the woods, far from anyone and being alone. No massive crowds to contend with and people looking at him and wondering what happened. He can’t remember anything past the blast and feels guilt for having survived when his friends didn’t. Rosanna is going to be paid well to look after Leo, cooking and cleaning and anything else she needs to do around the cabin, whilst having loads of time to work on her creative writing master’s final writing project.
She has a long and tiring journey ahead of her, having no car, so having to take a number of buses and then a taxi up to the cabin. She stopped and bought food supplies and has just a couple of bags with her. When she knocks on his door, he isn’t welcoming at all and it is only the bad weather and him knowing his mother would tell him off for leaving her outside, which means he lets her in. He shows her the neat and organised lower floor, to prove he has been looking after himself. He tries to turn her away with his scowl, but she asks to put the groceries away at least. He then agrees to let her cook their evening meal, since she already has all the supplies, then she needs to call a taxi to take her back into town. He isn’t that bothered that she has nowhere to stay! By the time they finish eating it is too late to get a taxi and the snow is worsening, so he agrees to let her stay the night, with a warning not to go into his studio! Only, the next morning the snow is far deeper than expected and the roads far too dangerous to pass. He has to agree to a trial of three more nights, until the roads can be ploughed, for her to work her magic. She hasn’t anywhere else to go and doesn’t want to freeze to death, so readily agrees to his conditions. He has said he will pay her for her time and won’t say anything to his mother, if she leaves earlier than planned.
Both Rosanna and Leo have been scarred by their pasts and neither is exactly looking for a relationship. But when their proximity and shared evenings around the fire soon turn to more, neither of them can resist. They think it will just be for the holidays and then she will be leaving to go back to finish her masters, but jealousy soon raises its ugly head, as does a withdrawal of affection after he meets up with an ex who is now happily married to money and has kids. Something he never thinks would happen to him, as no one would wanted a scarred and grumpy man like him. In true Beauty and the Beast tradition, Rosanna has to work hard to make him understand that his scars don’t faze her and that she can love him no matter what. Both will face their demons and when Rosanna gets worried enough about his welfare, she may well break his only rule, to see if he is alright. His anger pushes her away and she is left devastated with all of her work and musings ruined. She believes what happened was her fault and writes him an apology. This makes him think again about how he reacted and how he really feels about Rosanna. A HEA ending for both, as they reunite and everything is put behind them, as love conquers all in the end. They had a few bumps to navigate in the road to true love, but it was the person inside that was most important and not outside looks or wealth. A lovely retelling set in the festive season, with some home truths for all to take note of in our own relationships. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
She has a long and tiring journey ahead of her, having no car, so having to take a number of buses and then a taxi up to the cabin. She stopped and bought food supplies and has just a couple of bags with her. When she knocks on his door, he isn’t welcoming at all and it is only the bad weather and him knowing his mother would tell him off for leaving her outside, which means he lets her in. He shows her the neat and organised lower floor, to prove he has been looking after himself. He tries to turn her away with his scowl, but she asks to put the groceries away at least. He then agrees to let her cook their evening meal, since she already has all the supplies, then she needs to call a taxi to take her back into town. He isn’t that bothered that she has nowhere to stay! By the time they finish eating it is too late to get a taxi and the snow is worsening, so he agrees to let her stay the night, with a warning not to go into his studio! Only, the next morning the snow is far deeper than expected and the roads far too dangerous to pass. He has to agree to a trial of three more nights, until the roads can be ploughed, for her to work her magic. She hasn’t anywhere else to go and doesn’t want to freeze to death, so readily agrees to his conditions. He has said he will pay her for her time and won’t say anything to his mother, if she leaves earlier than planned.
Both Rosanna and Leo have been scarred by their pasts and neither is exactly looking for a relationship. But when their proximity and shared evenings around the fire soon turn to more, neither of them can resist. They think it will just be for the holidays and then she will be leaving to go back to finish her masters, but jealousy soon raises its ugly head, as does a withdrawal of affection after he meets up with an ex who is now happily married to money and has kids. Something he never thinks would happen to him, as no one would wanted a scarred and grumpy man like him. In true Beauty and the Beast tradition, Rosanna has to work hard to make him understand that his scars don’t faze her and that she can love him no matter what. Both will face their demons and when Rosanna gets worried enough about his welfare, she may well break his only rule, to see if he is alright. His anger pushes her away and she is left devastated with all of her work and musings ruined. She believes what happened was her fault and writes him an apology. This makes him think again about how he reacted and how he really feels about Rosanna. A HEA ending for both, as they reunite and everything is put behind them, as love conquers all in the end. They had a few bumps to navigate in the road to true love, but it was the person inside that was most important and not outside looks or wealth. A lovely retelling set in the festive season, with some home truths for all to take note of in our own relationships. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
dnf
April 12, 2023Not terrible writing, but immature.
November 22, 2024
I absolutely adored this Beauty and the Beast-inspired tale about two wounded souls doing their best to avoid Christmas and everything the holiday season represents for very different reasons. Leo, a military veteran, carries the weight of deep psychological and physical scars from an explosion he can’t even remember. Burdened by PTSD and survivor’s guilt, he isolates himself in a remote cottage, hoping to keep his inner turmoil from casting a shadow over his family’s festivities.
Rosanna, hired by Leo’s mother to ensure he’s looked after during the holidays, has her own reasons for steering clear of family celebrations, stemming from a strained relationship with her stepmother and stepsisters. The season also brings bittersweet memories of her late mother, who had a deep love for Christmas. True to his brooding nature, Leo isn’t thrilled by Rosanna’s arrival, but her offer to make lasagna proves irresistible—even to a self-proclaimed grump. I couldn’t help but laugh at how food became the unexpected icebreaker! What starts as one awkward evening extends to three, and soon, Rosanna finds herself staying for the duration of her contract. As the days pass, a tentative friendship develops, and Leo begins to let his guard down. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a surprisingly kind and thoughtful man. I loved how they gradually shared pieces of themselves and built a meaningful connection. Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The constant second-guessing on both sides with Leo doubting his worth and Rosanna questioning his feelings was equal parts realistic and frustrating. They’d obviously never heard of a little thing called communication! That said, when Leo finally gets his head on straight, I loved the gift he bought for Rosanna. Not only was it deeply thoughtful, but his plans for the cottage were the perfect romantic gesture for a budding writer. This story truly runs the emotional gamut, delivering a touch of humor, heartache, healing, and the perfect happily-ever-after. If you’re looking for a tender, festive read that celebrates love in all its messy, imperfect glory, this one’s a must!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rosanna, hired by Leo’s mother to ensure he’s looked after during the holidays, has her own reasons for steering clear of family celebrations, stemming from a strained relationship with her stepmother and stepsisters. The season also brings bittersweet memories of her late mother, who had a deep love for Christmas. True to his brooding nature, Leo isn’t thrilled by Rosanna’s arrival, but her offer to make lasagna proves irresistible—even to a self-proclaimed grump. I couldn’t help but laugh at how food became the unexpected icebreaker! What starts as one awkward evening extends to three, and soon, Rosanna finds herself staying for the duration of her contract. As the days pass, a tentative friendship develops, and Leo begins to let his guard down. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a surprisingly kind and thoughtful man. I loved how they gradually shared pieces of themselves and built a meaningful connection. Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The constant second-guessing on both sides with Leo doubting his worth and Rosanna questioning his feelings was equal parts realistic and frustrating. They’d obviously never heard of a little thing called communication! That said, when Leo finally gets his head on straight, I loved the gift he bought for Rosanna. Not only was it deeply thoughtful, but his plans for the cottage were the perfect romantic gesture for a budding writer. This story truly runs the emotional gamut, delivering a touch of humor, heartache, healing, and the perfect happily-ever-after. If you’re looking for a tender, festive read that celebrates love in all its messy, imperfect glory, this one’s a must!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 17, 2022
This is a play on one of my favorite movies Beauty and The Beast but be warned one you start you won’t stop until the last page has been turned. Leo sexy as all get out retired Navy Seal who lives with scars on his face, his body, and doesn’t remember how he got them. So, he has chosen to live up in the mountains away from everyone, everything and wants to be left alone especially feeling the guilt of living when some of his brother’s didn’t make it out alive. He loves his family, and they love him so much so that his mother hires a caretaker to help him through his first Christmas not liking it at all and has his mind made up he don’t want or need anyone. Rosanna so sweet, a graduate literary student not wanting to go home she loves her dad but her stepmother, stepsisters are horrid for the most part so going home wasn’t on her list to want to do so when a job offer to lie with a recluse man, cooking, helping him and keeping him company was ideal until she actually arrived and realized he wasn’t the nicest person. Fate decided to step in when she allowed the weather to change so quickly forcing him to allow her to stay there just for one night but the weather made sure she was there more than three days the more time the stronger the attraction, the more he got to know her and liked her until that magnetic pull between them became too much allowing each of them to learn to see through each other’s insecurities accepting them but is it enough for him, will he finely realize he isn’t the beast he built himself up in his head, does she see past his scars, will he see past her scars and through it all can they find their own HEA?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 20, 2022
Rosanna and Leo's story held me enthralled from beginning to end, I felt for Rosanna, who wouldn't with her home situation? I understood totally her making excuses to her dad but part of me felt he should have seen the situation for himself and corrected it. That said if he had we wouldn't have had this lovely story to read.
Rosanna needed a job to help her finance finishing school as well as a new place to live. She thought she'd found the perfect solution, acting as a live-in housekeeper/caretaker for one man, but she was warned that the man she'd be working for wasn't the easiest of people to get along with.
Leo wasn't what she was expecting, he must once have been gorgeous, he still was even with his scars, he took her breath away, but then he opened his mouth and told her she had to go, that his brother hiring her was a mistake and that she would have to go. But he agreed to let her stay for just one night, he might as well enjoy the home-cooked meal she'd planned to prepare for him. Only fate took a hand, the weather made it impossible for her to leave the next day and one night stretched into more. Would they find a way to coexist, and allow her to keep the job and him to keep his brother happy?
I just loved this story, seeing how they were with each other, and how each was able to be more than they thought was an emotional and often sad story. I loved seeing their relationship change how it was sometimes steamy, and sometimes tempestuous but always engrossing, but....... to find out how it all ends you will need to download this one for yourself because I'm not telling!
Rosanna needed a job to help her finance finishing school as well as a new place to live. She thought she'd found the perfect solution, acting as a live-in housekeeper/caretaker for one man, but she was warned that the man she'd be working for wasn't the easiest of people to get along with.
Leo wasn't what she was expecting, he must once have been gorgeous, he still was even with his scars, he took her breath away, but then he opened his mouth and told her she had to go, that his brother hiring her was a mistake and that she would have to go. But he agreed to let her stay for just one night, he might as well enjoy the home-cooked meal she'd planned to prepare for him. Only fate took a hand, the weather made it impossible for her to leave the next day and one night stretched into more. Would they find a way to coexist, and allow her to keep the job and him to keep his brother happy?
I just loved this story, seeing how they were with each other, and how each was able to be more than they thought was an emotional and often sad story. I loved seeing their relationship change how it was sometimes steamy, and sometimes tempestuous but always engrossing, but....... to find out how it all ends you will need to download this one for yourself because I'm not telling!
November 18, 2022
A Beauty and The Beast retelling?
With a wounded and reclusive Ex-Navy Seal?
A curvy spitfire that was hired to look after him over Christmas ?
Getting snowed in?
Yes, please!!!
This is a stand alone book in the Anchor Me series by Lisa Carlisle.
I absolutely loved this retelling of one of the most famous fairytales.
Leo is a grumpy and bitter Ex-Navy Seal, who has a few scars after being injured on a mission and his confidence is rock bottom. Who could ever love a beast like him?
He lives a solitary life in his family's cottage in Vermont.
Rosanna doesn't want to spend Christmas with her step family and takes a job as a caretaker for a veteran, his mother arranged it all, much to Leo's annoyance.
This is not your ordinary love story and both have scars that are both visible and invisible.
Leo and Rosanna are quite complex characters and just beautifully written.
Their relationship evolves without either of them having any hope of a future together and broken hearts and misunderstandings pave their way.
To see them both grow and overcome their own personal demons is heartwarming and just wonderful.
What one considers beautiful the other believes a flaw and vice versa. That part was utterly and truly life affirming. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and both Leo & Rosanna proven that it is worth fighting for and overcome your own insecurities.
Another absolutely amazing book by Lisa and in true Christmas spirit, I couldn't put it down the second I started reading.
The perfect book for the Christmas season.
With a wounded and reclusive Ex-Navy Seal?
A curvy spitfire that was hired to look after him over Christmas ?
Getting snowed in?
Yes, please!!!
This is a stand alone book in the Anchor Me series by Lisa Carlisle.
I absolutely loved this retelling of one of the most famous fairytales.
Leo is a grumpy and bitter Ex-Navy Seal, who has a few scars after being injured on a mission and his confidence is rock bottom. Who could ever love a beast like him?
He lives a solitary life in his family's cottage in Vermont.
Rosanna doesn't want to spend Christmas with her step family and takes a job as a caretaker for a veteran, his mother arranged it all, much to Leo's annoyance.
This is not your ordinary love story and both have scars that are both visible and invisible.
Leo and Rosanna are quite complex characters and just beautifully written.
Their relationship evolves without either of them having any hope of a future together and broken hearts and misunderstandings pave their way.
To see them both grow and overcome their own personal demons is heartwarming and just wonderful.
What one considers beautiful the other believes a flaw and vice versa. That part was utterly and truly life affirming. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and both Leo & Rosanna proven that it is worth fighting for and overcome your own insecurities.
Another absolutely amazing book by Lisa and in true Christmas spirit, I couldn't put it down the second I started reading.
The perfect book for the Christmas season.
January 6, 2023
After his time in the military left him scarred and hardened, Leo has secluded himself away in his family’s cabin. When his mother hires help to make sure Leo is doing ok and help him around the cabin, Leo isn’t happy that his space is about to be invaded, yet when Rosanna shows up he is blow away. Leo is stunned by Rosanna’s beauty, but his own insecurities has him acting like a beast and treating her not so nicely. The more time Leo is around her the more his interest is peaked until he is offering for her to stay a little longer. Rosanna is an amazing woman who has worked hard to get whee she is at in life so a temporary job has her traveling to Vermont and she isn’t prepared for the man she meets. These two fight their attraction and both have insecurities that have them shying away from each other but they soon can’t stop the pull. Can Leo learn to let go of what haunts him so he can move forward or will he forever be stuck hiding away to wallow in his pain? I loved that this story has beauty and the beast vibes while also weaving its own uniqueness throughout and the pain Leo felt was so heartbreaking but you fall in love with this grump anyways.
November 22, 2022
First off I love this author and everything she writes! This particular series is one of her best.
Rosanna goes to college in Boston and found a really good job for Christmas break, so she won’t be going home. Her dad is upset by this. She doesn’t want to go home because her stepmom and stepsisters go through her dad’s money like water and that’s why he can’t pay anything for her college. She’ll be up in a cottage in Vermont to write as she has to write a book or an anthology in order to get her Masters in Creative Writing. Since she is losing her sublet, she is leaving the majority of her stuff at her friend Daniel’s basement, while she goes to Vermont to care for Leo who was injured in the military.
Leo doesn’t want her there. She makes him lasagna with all the fixings, and it was delicious. Snow comes so she is forced to stay. And stay. They are cute together even with Leo being grumpy. Just like in Beauty and the Beast there is a room off limits. Awwww Leo can be sweet. Drat and he can me a grumpy idiot.
I totally loved this book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rosanna goes to college in Boston and found a really good job for Christmas break, so she won’t be going home. Her dad is upset by this. She doesn’t want to go home because her stepmom and stepsisters go through her dad’s money like water and that’s why he can’t pay anything for her college. She’ll be up in a cottage in Vermont to write as she has to write a book or an anthology in order to get her Masters in Creative Writing. Since she is losing her sublet, she is leaving the majority of her stuff at her friend Daniel’s basement, while she goes to Vermont to care for Leo who was injured in the military.
Leo doesn’t want her there. She makes him lasagna with all the fixings, and it was delicious. Snow comes so she is forced to stay. And stay. They are cute together even with Leo being grumpy. Just like in Beauty and the Beast there is a room off limits. Awwww Leo can be sweet. Drat and he can me a grumpy idiot.
I totally loved this book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 11, 2023
This story is just one example of the many different wounds that our brave men and women suffer to keep us safe. It was a very inspiring story to read and made me really appreciate what they do for us every day. I cried, raged and jumped for joy all in one sit.
They say beauty is only skin deep, but Leo takes that saying to a whole different level, he's not beautiful and he makes sure Rosanna is well aware of that, problem is she's starting to break the ice that is Leo and that scares the strong Seal.
Rosanna is sure that she can break through all the ice that Leo has wrapped around himself, but he is making it so hard.. In the meantime, she might just be cracking a bit herself and this was just supposed to be a temporary job. Her heart doesn't seem to get the message though because it knows that beneath all the scars and the rough demeanor is a soft-hearted man.
Brava Ms. Carlisle, great story!
They say beauty is only skin deep, but Leo takes that saying to a whole different level, he's not beautiful and he makes sure Rosanna is well aware of that, problem is she's starting to break the ice that is Leo and that scares the strong Seal.
Rosanna is sure that she can break through all the ice that Leo has wrapped around himself, but he is making it so hard.. In the meantime, she might just be cracking a bit herself and this was just supposed to be a temporary job. Her heart doesn't seem to get the message though because it knows that beneath all the scars and the rough demeanor is a soft-hearted man.
Brava Ms. Carlisle, great story!
November 23, 2024
Leo is a Beauty and the Beast inspired Christmas romance that captured my attention right away. I thought this book to be captivating from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know both of Leo and Rosanna who are remarkably written/developed and perfectly executed throughout this amazing book. I absolutely loved this take of a beauty and the beast and I found it to be quite entertaining and enjoyable to read. I love the fact that Leo and Rosanna have a happily ever after to their fabulous story. I would most certainly encourage other readers to checkout this amazing book. Author Lisa Carlisle wrote a fantastic holiday romance book which captivated me with the fabulous plot, spectacular characters, and a remarkable outcome for Leo and Rosanna. I can’t wait to read more amazing romance books by this fascinating author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 18, 2022
Rosanna & Leo
Rosanna just couldn't spend Christmas with her Step Mother and stepsisters. She made an excuse for her dad. A job she needed to finish school and find a new place to live. Thankfully she found something that would do both. She'd been warned about the man she was supposed to be a kind of caretaker. He took her breath away—that is before he barked at her that his brother shouldn't have hired her and she needed to leave!
The weather and his matching reaction to her kept her there first overnight that stretched out longer and longer. Would they find a way to coexist to keep his brother happy?
Watching these two find each other the reader will see them very differently than they thought. It was sometimes sad and emotional, sometimes steamy, and sometimes tempestuous. How will it finally end up? I won't tell but will say you'll love it.
Rosanna just couldn't spend Christmas with her Step Mother and stepsisters. She made an excuse for her dad. A job she needed to finish school and find a new place to live. Thankfully she found something that would do both. She'd been warned about the man she was supposed to be a kind of caretaker. He took her breath away—that is before he barked at her that his brother shouldn't have hired her and she needed to leave!
The weather and his matching reaction to her kept her there first overnight that stretched out longer and longer. Would they find a way to coexist to keep his brother happy?
Watching these two find each other the reader will see them very differently than they thought. It was sometimes sad and emotional, sometimes steamy, and sometimes tempestuous. How will it finally end up? I won't tell but will say you'll love it.
November 25, 2022
Roseanna needed a job to help her finish school and find a place to live. She was hired as a live in housekeeper and caretaker for a grumpy man. Leo is a wounded veteran who has become a recluse. When Roseanna gets to his house he tells her that she has to go. He lets her stay one night but tells her that she has to go in the morning. He's not had a home cooked meal in a long time. Now the weather is getting bad and it's impossible for her to leave. I love their journey on how they learn to coexist. They both had some emotional trauma. I love how their relationship changes over time and it sometimes get steamy. I couldn't put the book down as it was such an intriguing story. I really enjoyed reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 7, 2023
*Spoilers*
The premise of this book was really interesting to me. I really liked the setting and the idea for the main characters. A couple of issues I have with the book include:
*I’m pretty sure that in Beauty and the Beast she doesn’t have wicked stepsisters.I think the “not going home for Christmas” plot could’ve been executed without the step sisters involved. It makes the heroine into a “I’m not like other girls” girl.
* The voice of the author tends to be very flowery at times. It’s not my favorite style of writing, but maybe it’s yours.
* I felt that the first 60% of the book had a really good flow, but after that point, stuff happens really fast and is much less descriptive. It seems to be a race to the finish, and we lose some of the charm of the first part of the book.
* I hate third act break ups.
The premise of this book was really interesting to me. I really liked the setting and the idea for the main characters. A couple of issues I have with the book include:
*I’m pretty sure that in Beauty and the Beast she doesn’t have wicked stepsisters.I think the “not going home for Christmas” plot could’ve been executed without the step sisters involved. It makes the heroine into a “I’m not like other girls” girl.
* The voice of the author tends to be very flowery at times. It’s not my favorite style of writing, but maybe it’s yours.
* I felt that the first 60% of the book had a really good flow, but after that point, stuff happens really fast and is much less descriptive. It seems to be a race to the finish, and we lose some of the charm of the first part of the book.
* I hate third act break ups.
January 2, 2023
Solid 3.5/4 stars Great book to start off the new year. Set during Christmas/winter/New Years.
I wish it had more of the Beauty and The Beast tie in. The parts that were related were good! Essentially it was about Leo who sees himself as a beast and Rosanna who comes in and breaks down his walls. She has walls that are also up. Overall I did enjoy the few related pieces.
I wish it had more of their struggles and explored that more. It had some good moments but then other times it just sped through the struggles. It briefly mentioned how Rosanna relates to Leo (because of her mom) and I wish it would have dove deeper into that and made it a moment and not just a mention in a letter.
My heart broke for Leo but love his and Rosanna’s story!
KindleUnlimited.
I wish it had more of the Beauty and The Beast tie in. The parts that were related were good! Essentially it was about Leo who sees himself as a beast and Rosanna who comes in and breaks down his walls. She has walls that are also up. Overall I did enjoy the few related pieces.
I wish it had more of their struggles and explored that more. It had some good moments but then other times it just sped through the struggles. It briefly mentioned how Rosanna relates to Leo (because of her mom) and I wish it would have dove deeper into that and made it a moment and not just a mention in a letter.
My heart broke for Leo but love his and Rosanna’s story!
KindleUnlimited.
November 21, 2022
Leo: A Beauty and the Beast-inspired Navy SEAL Romance was such a moving story. Leo was scared after his last Seal mission, he’s hiding away at his family’s Vermont cabin. His mom sends Rosanna to watch after him over the winter break. He immediately wants to send her away but he relents and she stays. As their feelings grow so do his insecurities and he pushes her away. He knows he needs her but is it to late to get her back? These characters had such depth, I just wanted to hug them. I loved the storyline and the little twists you weren’t expecting. I would definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 22, 2022
What an incredible read! Well written, this is told with a beauty and the beast themed storyline that draws you in and holds you close. Leo is scarred inside and out and so hides away from the world but it’s Christmas and so his family send Rosanna to be his caretaker for the holiday season as he refuses to go home. Rosanna is happy to accept a temp job just to get away from her step family but has she done the right thing in spending time with Leo. Both come from bad situations though both are different and both have trauma and have experienced the bad side of life. It’s emotional, it’s enthralling and it has a few twists and surprises along the way and I loved it.
December 29, 2022
Leo has hidden away from everyone because of his scars from his time as a Navy SEAL. Rosanna is hired by Leo's mother to be his caretaker so he won't be alone all of the time. At first things didn't go well but when a snowstorm hits they are stranded together at the cabin. A spark is ignited and the more time they spent together the closer they get. This well written modern-day twist on Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite books by Lisa Carlisle. I loved the characters and the storyline pulled me in and didn't let go until the last page. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
November 15, 2022
Grumpy hero Christmas story!!
Leo was definitely beastly some parts of the story, understandably for most of it. Rosanna was a very kind hearted and open person, perfect for bringing Leo out of his shell. This was a feel good read about growth and realization. It was wonderful watching these two fight the attraction and slowly fall in love anyways. This read does touch on PTSD a little bit. This was a sweet and steamy feel good Christmas story with a happy ending!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Leo was definitely beastly some parts of the story, understandably for most of it. Rosanna was a very kind hearted and open person, perfect for bringing Leo out of his shell. This was a feel good read about growth and realization. It was wonderful watching these two fight the attraction and slowly fall in love anyways. This read does touch on PTSD a little bit. This was a sweet and steamy feel good Christmas story with a happy ending!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 19, 2022
This modern version of Beauty and the Beast had good characters who were likeable and their connection and chemistry was believable. They both had insecurities and self doubts, and these influenced heavily how they thought and felt. I enjoyed seeing them come together and face their feelings for one another, and face the consequences of their actions. The story flowed well and held my interest from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2022
Rosanna is hired by Leo's family without his permission, so when he finds out she us already in the way when she arrives he lets her come to the door before he tells her she has to leave but something about her makes him change his mind along with the weather as to how long she will be able to actually stag. Leo is surprised he thought she would be older but she is nice and he liked her. An awakening for an military retiree. I read a copy via BookFunnel without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.
December 26, 2023
A very Beauty and the beast style seasonal story. Rosanna takes a job to look after a veteran in his remote cabin from his mother. Mainly to avoid an ugly Christmas with step family but also to fund her last semester at College.
She discovers the veteran is not as incapable as she thought but very grouchy.
Leo , an ex navy Seal has issues after leaving the military through injury and loss, hence his reclusivness. Can Rosanna help him overcome those issues and can love blossom over Christmas?
She discovers the veteran is not as incapable as she thought but very grouchy.
Leo , an ex navy Seal has issues after leaving the military through injury and loss, hence his reclusivness. Can Rosanna help him overcome those issues and can love blossom over Christmas?
November 18, 2024
This is a Navy Seal Veteran Romance story for Leo and Rosanna. This is one of the best stories I have read so far and yes I say that about a lot of them, but this one has a lot of topics that will make you think outside your comfort zone. There is trauma from both characters, family dynamics that will have you thinking about your own, pain and loss, a little mystery and then there is the passion and emotional connection these two work through. Definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 21, 2024
Everyone loves a fairytale, so why not read a paranormal fairytale especially a Christmas one when the holiday is right around the corner the characters were wonderful. You will really love Leo main character. I would say the storyline is magnificent and the world building was terrific. It was a street page Turner. You will not put it down to your finish yet and you still want more I would definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2024
Rosanna (FMC) takes on a job over Christmas all to avoid spending the time with her family. Based loosely on the Beauty and the Beast story. Leo is the Ex-Navy Seal that is scarred both on the inside and the outside by events that have happened to him in his military career. Now a virtual recluse his family employs Rosanna to look after him. Being snowed in and having to try to get along makes things grow between the both of them. It also gave them plenty of time to delve into each other's anxieties and opened up more about themselves. This was a good read.
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