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Taming the Beast
After years of turmoil, Roderick Cherbon has left the Crusades to return to the home he loves. But the wars have changed him, and the heir who thought to heal his father's injustices has become a vicious beast of a man, scarred inside and out. He will speak to no one, see no one; he leaves the shadows of his ruined keep only under the darkness of night. And even in death his father mocks him: to retain his land and title, Roderick, the Beast, must marry.
Lady Michaela Fortune is reviled for her poverty, ridiculed for her dreams, and preyed on for her soft heart. Humiliation and want dog her beloved family, and her pride is an indulgence she can ill afford. Cherbon and its shattered lord offer a solution. But to court a man who has fallen so low, Michaela will need all her grace and beauty to harbor any hopes of taming the beast.
Lady Michaela Fortune is reviled for her poverty, ridiculed for her dreams, and preyed on for her soft heart. Humiliation and want dog her beloved family, and her pride is an indulgence she can ill afford. Cherbon and its shattered lord offer a solution. But to court a man who has fallen so low, Michaela will need all her grace and beauty to harbor any hopes of taming the beast.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
23 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Heather Grothaus
32 books172 followersHeather Grothaus has published twelve novels since 2006, which
have been translated into several foreign languages. She fell in love with
historical romance after reading a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel when she
was far too young to be doing so, and has since built a
reputation for crafting twisting adventures, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and
heart-wrenching emotion. When she’s not writing, she spends her time
gardening, listening to music, reading, and
watching Sherlock. She lives on a small farm in Kentucky with her family.
have been translated into several foreign languages. She fell in love with
historical romance after reading a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel when she
was far too young to be doing so, and has since built a
reputation for crafting twisting adventures, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and
heart-wrenching emotion. When she’s not writing, she spends her time
gardening, listening to music, reading, and
watching Sherlock. She lives on a small farm in Kentucky with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 9, 2009
This was a total impulse buy that paid off. I loved this book. It was one of those stories that I couldn't put down, and I was compelled to read, even though I had already started some other books. It couldn't believe how fast I read it, within about four to five hours.
I love medieval romances, so that helped. And I'm a sucker for the broken/scarred/hurt hero. Well, Roderick is all three. He comes back from the Crusades a broken man, although he had lots of baggage before he went there, with a father who did nothing but torment and treat him poorly and had driven his mother to suicide. Thankfully, his good friend that he makes during the Crusades saves his life and gets him medical attention, and the word that his father has died and he must find a bride to keep his land, gives him the strength to fight to get better and to come back to England.
There were times when Roderick descended into self-pity. I suppose this might not work for all readers, but it was realistic. If if a man had always been talked down to and ridiculed by his father, I wouldn't expect him to have the healthiest self-esteem. Yes, he might annoy some readers the way he pushes his son away and doesn't want to let Michaela in, but I loved Roderick from the first page. He's one of those heroes I really wanted to see happy. I could understand why he kept those he loved and who loved him at a distance, feeling he wasn't worthy and would fail them.
I adored Michaela as well. She had some moments of self-interest, but at the same time, I could see why she was motivated in such a fashion. She had been picked on her whole life because of her mother insisting that she had gotten kidnapped by The Wild Hunt. They called her Devil's Child and stuff like that. She was clumsy and tended to trip and run into things. Plus she grew up poor, although very much loved. One night at a party at her overlord's manor, she gets his attention by her bond with his daughter, Elizabeth, who hasn't talked since her mother died. Also her beautiful singing voice makes Michaela stand out. He invites her to come live with them as Elizabeth's companion. Because of this attention she gets from him, she fell in 'love' with her overlord, and he made some gestures like he was going to marry her, but married her arch-nemesis instead, humiliating her. So she decided to marry the Beast, who was the lord over the man who spurned her, a move motivated out of revenge against this man who spurned her, since he won't inherit the properties of Roderick, his cousin.
She goes to his rundown castle, determined to fulfill the required ninety days of residence before the marriage. When she finally sees The Beast, she is instantly attracted to him, scars, limping, and surly demeanor and all. She falls into his beautiful and bright green eyes, and likes his large, sculpted body, despite the fact that it's clear that his leg and arm are crippled. Their dance around each other made this book worth reading. There was an intense attraction between Roderick and Michaela that sparkled off the page. At times, Michaela was very much put into the role of the "Chaser," but it worked for me, because Roderick had never been loved in that way, so it was nice to see someone working for his affections. It was cute how Roderick was somewhat bewildered by his strong feelings for Michaela.
Another thing I loved was the toddler Leo. He was so cute. I just wanted to take him out this story as my own baby. I loved his baby talk, and how loving he was. As Roderick's acknowledged son by a prostitute in the Crusades, he had a big role, since he was Roderick's heir. Also, the interplay with Roderick as he tries to keep his distance out of fear of destroying his son the way his father destroyed him was pivotal in the evolution of this story. Just reading the scenes with this cute little boy made this book so much more enjoyable. I'm so serious. This kid was so adorable. I liked the way Michaela bonded with him and helped improve the relationship between Roderick and his son. Like any baby, Leo loved his father unconditionally, but was somewhat kept at a distance that was somewhat confusing for the toddler. I was glad that this changed significantly over the course of the book.
Hugh was also a great character. His steadfast friendship and aid to Roderick. His love and care for Leo. His flamboyant tastes in clothing. His potty mouth and irreverent humor. His bad advice to Michaela about how to snare Roderick's affections. It gave this book another appealing layer.
There is a thread of the paranormal that runs through this book that intensifies at the climax. I thought it was very interesting, and also unnerving. It was very cool. Now I have to read the short story in Highland Beast, which is about a character who shows up in this story.
I really, really liked this book,and I would highly recommend it to fans of scarred/wounded heroes,and heroines who are determined to get their man, but aren't obnoxious about it. I'm glad I was able to spend a few hours with Roderick, Michaela, cute little Leo, and Hugh, who made me laugh, and also choked me up with his devotion to Roderick. It was time well spent.
I love medieval romances, so that helped. And I'm a sucker for the broken/scarred/hurt hero. Well, Roderick is all three. He comes back from the Crusades a broken man, although he had lots of baggage before he went there, with a father who did nothing but torment and treat him poorly and had driven his mother to suicide. Thankfully, his good friend that he makes during the Crusades saves his life and gets him medical attention, and the word that his father has died and he must find a bride to keep his land, gives him the strength to fight to get better and to come back to England.
There were times when Roderick descended into self-pity. I suppose this might not work for all readers, but it was realistic. If if a man had always been talked down to and ridiculed by his father, I wouldn't expect him to have the healthiest self-esteem. Yes, he might annoy some readers the way he pushes his son away and doesn't want to let Michaela in, but I loved Roderick from the first page. He's one of those heroes I really wanted to see happy. I could understand why he kept those he loved and who loved him at a distance, feeling he wasn't worthy and would fail them.
I adored Michaela as well. She had some moments of self-interest, but at the same time, I could see why she was motivated in such a fashion. She had been picked on her whole life because of her mother insisting that she had gotten kidnapped by The Wild Hunt. They called her Devil's Child and stuff like that. She was clumsy and tended to trip and run into things. Plus she grew up poor, although very much loved. One night at a party at her overlord's manor, she gets his attention by her bond with his daughter, Elizabeth, who hasn't talked since her mother died. Also her beautiful singing voice makes Michaela stand out. He invites her to come live with them as Elizabeth's companion. Because of this attention she gets from him, she fell in 'love' with her overlord, and he made some gestures like he was going to marry her, but married her arch-nemesis instead, humiliating her. So she decided to marry the Beast, who was the lord over the man who spurned her, a move motivated out of revenge against this man who spurned her, since he won't inherit the properties of Roderick, his cousin.
She goes to his rundown castle, determined to fulfill the required ninety days of residence before the marriage. When she finally sees The Beast, she is instantly attracted to him, scars, limping, and surly demeanor and all. She falls into his beautiful and bright green eyes, and likes his large, sculpted body, despite the fact that it's clear that his leg and arm are crippled. Their dance around each other made this book worth reading. There was an intense attraction between Roderick and Michaela that sparkled off the page. At times, Michaela was very much put into the role of the "Chaser," but it worked for me, because Roderick had never been loved in that way, so it was nice to see someone working for his affections. It was cute how Roderick was somewhat bewildered by his strong feelings for Michaela.
Another thing I loved was the toddler Leo. He was so cute. I just wanted to take him out this story as my own baby. I loved his baby talk, and how loving he was. As Roderick's acknowledged son by a prostitute in the Crusades, he had a big role, since he was Roderick's heir. Also, the interplay with Roderick as he tries to keep his distance out of fear of destroying his son the way his father destroyed him was pivotal in the evolution of this story. Just reading the scenes with this cute little boy made this book so much more enjoyable. I'm so serious. This kid was so adorable. I liked the way Michaela bonded with him and helped improve the relationship between Roderick and his son. Like any baby, Leo loved his father unconditionally, but was somewhat kept at a distance that was somewhat confusing for the toddler. I was glad that this changed significantly over the course of the book.
Hugh was also a great character. His steadfast friendship and aid to Roderick. His love and care for Leo. His flamboyant tastes in clothing. His potty mouth and irreverent humor. His bad advice to Michaela about how to snare Roderick's affections. It gave this book another appealing layer.
There is a thread of the paranormal that runs through this book that intensifies at the climax. I thought it was very interesting, and also unnerving. It was very cool. Now I have to read the short story in Highland Beast, which is about a character who shows up in this story.
I really, really liked this book,and I would highly recommend it to fans of scarred/wounded heroes,and heroines who are determined to get their man, but aren't obnoxious about it. I'm glad I was able to spend a few hours with Roderick, Michaela, cute little Leo, and Hugh, who made me laugh, and also choked me up with his devotion to Roderick. It was time well spent.
January 25, 2018
3.5 stars
Good historical fiction romance about a naive young girl who sees the good in everyone and comes to wed a beast. The beast is just a knight crippled and scarred from the Crusades.
There is a very slight paranormal touch to the book.
Good historical fiction romance about a naive young girl who sees the good in everyone and comes to wed a beast. The beast is just a knight crippled and scarred from the Crusades.
There is a very slight paranormal touch to the book.
March 11, 2017
5 Bold Stars !
This book was a 3.25 until I reached the last 30% or so.Because the Ending? Good Lord! was everything <3
The climax was almost a 2 part in this read...hence the added 2 stars to the rating.(Each for a part)
P.s: Yes.This book is based on Beauty & The Beast.But it's just that,A base for the story to build on.But the intricate characters the author adds to embellish and the unexpected climax added in the end....Makes this book different.
And everything <3
Would highly recommend !
This book was a 3.25 until I reached the last 30% or so.Because the Ending? Good Lord! was everything <3
The climax was almost a 2 part in this read...hence the added 2 stars to the rating.(Each for a part)
P.s: Yes.This book is based on Beauty & The Beast.But it's just that,A base for the story to build on.But the intricate characters the author adds to embellish and the unexpected climax added in the end....Makes this book different.
And everything <3
Would highly recommend !
August 30, 2019
This one was meh. Hero was too morose and cruel. Too many side characters, first act h and the girl she is taking care of and thinks herself in love with her father. Then the hero, his friend. Just didn't work for me. For a virgin h was too sexually confident. And the whole PNR aspect was also like WTF! H's life was like a sad horror fest.
July 15, 2010
Roderick Cherbon returns home after escaping the clutches of death on the battlefield to the home were he was never wanted and an inheritance laced with the condition he marry before he turns 30. A condition made by his deceased father as a last spite to show Roderick he is not worthy. Finding a wife when scarred physically and mentally proves very hard though as all candidates flee the moment they lay eyes on Roderick and his gloomy castle. Even the offer of money doesn't entice the ladies.
Roderick’s quest for a wife comes to the ears of Michaela Fortune who is devastated when the man she thinks she’s in love with, and he in love with her, marries another. That man happens to be Roderick's cousin, Alan Thornfield, the man who inherits everything if Roderick doesn’t succeed. For Michaela there's no better revenge than to marry Roderick and make sure Alan doesn't become the heir by default. The money Roderick offers will also help her family who is scraping by. But soon money or revenge is the last thing on Michaela's mind as the scarred man, who beneath the ornery and harsh exterior is a man of honor longing to be loved, enthralls her.
TAMING THE BEAST was my first encounter with Heather Grothaus' writing and I must say I enjoyed it very much. Her strength definitely lies in her characters that are far from flawless but very likeable at the same time. Michaela grew with every page. She is smart and outspoken from the beginning but she is also a bit musing. Even though I liked her a lot because of her clumsiness, the way she holds her own and her caring nature and love for children I didn't like the parts where her blind adoration and crush on Alan took an almost childlike form. Luckily this changed when she went to Cherbon and fell in love with Roderick.
I loved Roderick. He is the epitome of the scarred beast hero but often enough his outer shell of rudeness cracked and showed the man beneath who is tender and yearning for love and acceptance. Like Michaela, he too grows in the story. Things around him are subtly and gradually exposed to the reader and some were pleasantly surprising and unexpected.
Next to the well fleshed out, three-dimensional hero and heroine, Grothaus also delivers on the secondary characters. Alan is manipulative and greedy and even though I started out not liking him at all, he was caring towards his daughter and he redeemed himself a bit at the end of the book. Harliss, Roderick's childhood nurse plays a very important role in the plot and she reminded me of the typical mean old witch we all know from the fairytales. As much as I liked Michaela and Roderick, I despised Harliss and, to some degree, Alan.
And then there's Hugh, Roderick's best friend. His character puzzled me several times in the story. One moment, I would like him, the other moment not so much and it wasn't until I got a surprising bit of information about him that it all clicked for me. I really didn't see that twist in his characterization coming at all and it had a nice twist to it and the story in general.
I know there are plenty romance readers who dislike having children play a part in romance novels but I really like it and in this book it was Leo who stole my heart, he is such an adorable 3 year-old. He's the kind of child you want to take out of the book to cuddle with. He is also crucial to plot and characterization and I really loved how Heather Grothaus wrote his character into the story.
The plot TAMING THE BEAST is a layered and rich one but at times also a little bit predictable. This could have been a problem for me but because of some very surprising twists, especially from the second half onwards, I totally forgot about the predictable stuff in the beginning. The last part of the book was very emotional and included some paranormal elements that were unexpected despite the hints to them given prior in the story. Many things that arose questions with me in the beginning, fell into place to my relief and satisfaction.
With TAMING THE BEAST Heather Grothaus tackles the age old trope of "the beauty and the beast" and she does it with original and refreshing writing, wonderful characters and a plot with a dash of paranormal, that goes from a little predictable to completely unexpected twists. If you love medieval historical romance with engaging characters and an interesting plot, this is not to be missed on the reading pile.
Roderick’s quest for a wife comes to the ears of Michaela Fortune who is devastated when the man she thinks she’s in love with, and he in love with her, marries another. That man happens to be Roderick's cousin, Alan Thornfield, the man who inherits everything if Roderick doesn’t succeed. For Michaela there's no better revenge than to marry Roderick and make sure Alan doesn't become the heir by default. The money Roderick offers will also help her family who is scraping by. But soon money or revenge is the last thing on Michaela's mind as the scarred man, who beneath the ornery and harsh exterior is a man of honor longing to be loved, enthralls her.
TAMING THE BEAST was my first encounter with Heather Grothaus' writing and I must say I enjoyed it very much. Her strength definitely lies in her characters that are far from flawless but very likeable at the same time. Michaela grew with every page. She is smart and outspoken from the beginning but she is also a bit musing. Even though I liked her a lot because of her clumsiness, the way she holds her own and her caring nature and love for children I didn't like the parts where her blind adoration and crush on Alan took an almost childlike form. Luckily this changed when she went to Cherbon and fell in love with Roderick.
I loved Roderick. He is the epitome of the scarred beast hero but often enough his outer shell of rudeness cracked and showed the man beneath who is tender and yearning for love and acceptance. Like Michaela, he too grows in the story. Things around him are subtly and gradually exposed to the reader and some were pleasantly surprising and unexpected.
Next to the well fleshed out, three-dimensional hero and heroine, Grothaus also delivers on the secondary characters. Alan is manipulative and greedy and even though I started out not liking him at all, he was caring towards his daughter and he redeemed himself a bit at the end of the book. Harliss, Roderick's childhood nurse plays a very important role in the plot and she reminded me of the typical mean old witch we all know from the fairytales. As much as I liked Michaela and Roderick, I despised Harliss and, to some degree, Alan.
And then there's Hugh, Roderick's best friend. His character puzzled me several times in the story. One moment, I would like him, the other moment not so much and it wasn't until I got a surprising bit of information about him that it all clicked for me. I really didn't see that twist in his characterization coming at all and it had a nice twist to it and the story in general.
I know there are plenty romance readers who dislike having children play a part in romance novels but I really like it and in this book it was Leo who stole my heart, he is such an adorable 3 year-old. He's the kind of child you want to take out of the book to cuddle with. He is also crucial to plot and characterization and I really loved how Heather Grothaus wrote his character into the story.
The plot TAMING THE BEAST is a layered and rich one but at times also a little bit predictable. This could have been a problem for me but because of some very surprising twists, especially from the second half onwards, I totally forgot about the predictable stuff in the beginning. The last part of the book was very emotional and included some paranormal elements that were unexpected despite the hints to them given prior in the story. Many things that arose questions with me in the beginning, fell into place to my relief and satisfaction.
With TAMING THE BEAST Heather Grothaus tackles the age old trope of "the beauty and the beast" and she does it with original and refreshing writing, wonderful characters and a plot with a dash of paranormal, that goes from a little predictable to completely unexpected twists. If you love medieval historical romance with engaging characters and an interesting plot, this is not to be missed on the reading pile.
October 25, 2010
So after a long long time of having people tell me I HAD to read this book, I saw it was on sale on the Kindle and so I snagged it.
What worked for me
* Tortured hero with lots of scars, a physical disability (that I won't expound on because it's a part of the "twist"), and a really nasty attitude.
*A clumsy, outcast heroine. I loved that she was constantly running into stuff and tripping and falling on her bum :)
*Unrequited love and the angst that goes along with it *dreamy sigh*
*The "twist" about Rodrick's injury, as well as the twist about Leo.
What didn't work for me
*The paranormal aspect. Seriously, that was awful. Either make it a "paranormal romance" and have the majority of the plot center around the paranormal aspects, or leave it off. Don't just have a couple things in the story vaguely refer to it and then have the entire resolution revolve around it. I'm not kidding when I say they could've left the Wild Hunt completely out of this story and you wouldn't have missed a danged thing. Blah.
*On the same note as the above point, the boot at the end. Dude never took it off? All I could think was "OMG that's got to be nasty to bathe with" or "does this mean the man never takes a bath??"
*Leo's speech was annoying. Yes, he was three, but the phonetic spelling of his lisp or whatever you want to call it annoyed the pie out of me.
*Harliss. She was so over-the-top that I almost expected her to tie someone up and leave them on a railroad track (despite the fact that the story is set before trains lol). And to top it off, knowing how awful she is, they sent her somewhere they knew there was not only a child but one that our heroine loved as a daughter?! Are you kidding me?!
*Michaela and Julianna become friends in the end?? REALLY?! I just don't see that happening.. She's a total c u next tuesday to Michaela for the whole book, steals the man Michaela is in love with, and then all of a sudden they are buddy buddy? No thank you.
But, even with all that, I say the pros definitely outweighed the cons, and I'm gonna go with a solid 4 Stars :)
What worked for me
* Tortured hero with lots of scars, a physical disability (that I won't expound on because it's a part of the "twist"), and a really nasty attitude.
*A clumsy, outcast heroine. I loved that she was constantly running into stuff and tripping and falling on her bum :)
*Unrequited love and the angst that goes along with it *dreamy sigh*
*The "twist" about Rodrick's injury, as well as the twist about Leo.
What didn't work for me
*The paranormal aspect. Seriously, that was awful. Either make it a "paranormal romance" and have the majority of the plot center around the paranormal aspects, or leave it off. Don't just have a couple things in the story vaguely refer to it and then have the entire resolution revolve around it. I'm not kidding when I say they could've left the Wild Hunt completely out of this story and you wouldn't have missed a danged thing. Blah.
*On the same note as the above point, the boot at the end. Dude never took it off? All I could think was "OMG that's got to be nasty to bathe with" or "does this mean the man never takes a bath??"
*Leo's speech was annoying. Yes, he was three, but the phonetic spelling of his lisp or whatever you want to call it annoyed the pie out of me.
*Harliss. She was so over-the-top that I almost expected her to tie someone up and leave them on a railroad track (despite the fact that the story is set before trains lol). And to top it off, knowing how awful she is, they sent her somewhere they knew there was not only a child but one that our heroine loved as a daughter?! Are you kidding me?!
*Michaela and Julianna become friends in the end?? REALLY?! I just don't see that happening.. She's a total c u next tuesday to Michaela for the whole book, steals the man Michaela is in love with, and then all of a sudden they are buddy buddy? No thank you.
But, even with all that, I say the pros definitely outweighed the cons, and I'm gonna go with a solid 4 Stars :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2013
3.5 stars.
While this book had many elements that I normally love - beauty and the beast, adorable child, secrets - it was just missing something. I have never read anything by Heather Grothaus and she's a good writer, but it just didn't click for me. I absolutely loved Leo or Ee-oh, as he would call himself. Even though I got to know the main characters, I really didn't fall for either one. Roderick had been terribly injured in the Crusades and is missing part of his leg, from the knee down. He somehow hides it with his boot. Well, he was the epitome of the tortured hero and basically we hear his incessant complaining, woe-is-me attitude, I-can-never marry-because-of-this-missing-leg grumbling the whole entire book. Sorry, but I just wanted to slap him after a while. This is the best
Michaela was a beautiful yet clumsy - and turns out cursed - heroine. I liked her but didn't love her. Again, her relationship with her companion Elizabeth and then Leo was beautiful but not enough to save this story.
But no regrets. Not everything can be a five-star book. Denise lent me this - many thanks!
While this book had many elements that I normally love - beauty and the beast, adorable child, secrets - it was just missing something. I have never read anything by Heather Grothaus and she's a good writer, but it just didn't click for me. I absolutely loved Leo or Ee-oh, as he would call himself. Even though I got to know the main characters, I really didn't fall for either one. Roderick had been terribly injured in the Crusades and is missing part of his leg, from the knee down. He somehow hides it with his boot. Well, he was the epitome of the tortured hero and basically we hear his incessant complaining, woe-is-me attitude, I-can-never marry-because-of-this-missing-leg grumbling the whole entire book. Sorry, but I just wanted to slap him after a while. This is the best
Michaela was a beautiful yet clumsy - and turns out cursed - heroine. I liked her but didn't love her. Again, her relationship with her companion Elizabeth and then Leo was beautiful but not enough to save this story.
But no regrets. Not everything can be a five-star book. Denise lent me this - many thanks!
May 20, 2010
I did like this book, it was an enjoyable read and I thought Leo the heroes son in this was adorable. However, I don't think this is a book that will stick in my mind nor would I really rush to buy another one of the authors book.
A few things niggled me about this book, the main thing being how Micheala, the heroine of the story, fell in love quite so quickly with Roderick our hero. Because at the point in the story when she decides that she loves him he has done nothing to "earn" it apart for being rude. And although we the reader know he is a loveable person there wasno way she would have realized that.
But the good things were that the characters were well drawn out and there was a depth of feeling in the book aswell. And although there was nothing wrong or bad about this book, it just didn't click with me.
A few things niggled me about this book, the main thing being how Micheala, the heroine of the story, fell in love quite so quickly with Roderick our hero. Because at the point in the story when she decides that she loves him he has done nothing to "earn" it apart for being rude. And although we the reader know he is a loveable person there wasno way she would have realized that.
But the good things were that the characters were well drawn out and there was a depth of feeling in the book aswell. And although there was nothing wrong or bad about this book, it just didn't click with me.
December 30, 2009
I liked it! I haven't read Medieval in a very long time but I was attracted to the B&B theme. This didn't disappoint. I liked seeing his redemption and her steadfastly making him believe that he was not worthless. The paranormal aspect was just a bit much but I overall really liked this. There were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming too!
June 8, 2018
I found this book difficult to read with the constant change in perspectives between the two protagonists. The POVs changed almost every couple of paragraphs, as opposed to it occurring by chapter. It made for a read that was not seamless or smooth.
Spoiler...there’s a love triangle. I HATE love triangles. 👎🏼.
I felt that the book jumped all over the place at times and that there was info dumping.
Overall...it’s an alright read.
Spoiler...there’s a love triangle. I HATE love triangles. 👎🏼.
I felt that the book jumped all over the place at times and that there was info dumping.
Overall...it’s an alright read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2012
Note: This review, and all my reviews, comes from my blog - Romantic Rose's Bookshelf (http://romantic-rosesblog.blogspot.com)
First, let me say, I’m a real sucker for Beauty and the Beast stories. If you’re not, you won’t adore this book nearly as much as I do. That warning aside, this book was fantastic! Roderick Cherbon has returned from the Crusades hideously disfigured. The only good news is his hated father has died, leaving him the Cherbon lands – with a condition. He must marry before his thirtieth birthday, to a lady of good family. In an effort to keep his lands, he sends out a proclamation asking marriageable ladies to the castle. Lady Michaela Fortune, also known as ‘Miss Fortune’, comes from a poor but titled family. After being rebuked harshly by the man she thought she loved, she leaves for the Cherbon lands, determined (and I do mean determined) to win the man and the fortune he’s offering to heal her damaged pride and save her family from ruins. But the ‘Cherbon Devil’ turns out to be more than Micheala bargained for at first – can she even hope to tame the beast?
The first thing that I liked, right off, was the uniqueness of the time period. There are so many Beauty and the Beast tales set in the Regency period that it was nice to see one in a different era, during 1103 and the Crusades. The dialogue was active and engaging, and I loved seeing things from Roderick and Micheala’s point of view. Both were especially poignant, and very different from the other. I liked seeing how their differences made them so compatible. I loved seeing her go from a childish, light-hearted dreamer to a more serious and mature, but still kind and caring, woman. I loved seeing her share her light with Roderick. This book actually reminded me a bit of Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (one of my all time favorites) because of Micheala’s persistence to help Roderick see the good in himself, and his insistence to only see the worst in himself.
Roderick was a heartbreaking character. His abusive father instilled in him a sense of his own worthlessness, and he went to the Crusades hoping to prove his worth. Instead he comes back a failure in his own mind, crippled, missing a leg, and scarred beyond compare. He feels no one can love him as he is - a disgusting failure. He repulses himself, and is so filled with his own self-loathing he can’t find a way to escape it. He, just like Dain in Lord of Scoundrels, is a perfect dark, brooding, angsty hero who tries to hide his pain in his cruel words and actions to other. I loved his fear of being loved because he’d never been loved before, his child-like uncertainty. He was just so… perfect. I was piling on the empathy for this man. My heart still breaks for him.
Lady Micheala Fortune was admirable and loveable. She kept hoping even when it was hopeless, and was the right blend of patient and relentless. She never stopped loving him, or telling/showing him she loved him. I liked watching her change from a girl into a woman without losing any of her fabulous qualities. I loved her guts – how she was willing to yell at Roderick whenever he yelled at her, and how she never left. She was the only kind of heroine to help Roderick, and she made him whole again - or perhaps for the first time ever. She, just as he grew, also really blossomed in my eyes. I especially loved her motherly sentiments towards Leo, Roderick’s son, and how she brought the father and son closer together. (Again, Lord of Scoundrels, anyone?)
All in all, with the sweet little boy, Leo, the wonderful mother-figure Micheala, and the wounded hero father, Roderick, could one have a more perfect family?
Now, one short paragraph of what knocked this book from A+ position. The dialogue was a little inconsistent for the time period. Some of the sentences seemed accurate in structure but others included words or phrases that seemed too modern. Whether they were, I’m not certain, but I had to question the authenticity of the syntax for the time period. The ending was my biggest problem – it was unrealistically happy. Everyone’s friends and ***BIG BIG BIG SPOILER ALERT HERE*** Roderick’s leg that is missing gets healed-ish by some freaky ‘Justice’ man. I hate to say it, but the soldiers over in Iraq who have their legs blown off, despite the injustice of it, don’t get new legs all of a sudden. I really disliked how unrealistic that was. ***END OF BIG BIG BIG SPOILER ALERT***. I like happy endings, but this was completely unrealistic, which surprised me. The rest of the book focused on the realism of Roderick’s injuries, and the very end seemed to make all his previous struggles negligible for the sake of the perfection of the ending. It was too much a fairy tale ending, especially compared to the rest of the book. It just didn’t match and felt forced, and that definitely pulled the book down in my esteem. Finally, the villain was tots cliché. But I was expecting that.
“Sexy”ness rating: More tender than flaming hot, but there is sex
Overall Rating: A-
Bottom Line: Sweet and beautiful, with a unique setting and good dialogue (and a fabulous cast of characters) this is def worth your time!
First, let me say, I’m a real sucker for Beauty and the Beast stories. If you’re not, you won’t adore this book nearly as much as I do. That warning aside, this book was fantastic! Roderick Cherbon has returned from the Crusades hideously disfigured. The only good news is his hated father has died, leaving him the Cherbon lands – with a condition. He must marry before his thirtieth birthday, to a lady of good family. In an effort to keep his lands, he sends out a proclamation asking marriageable ladies to the castle. Lady Michaela Fortune, also known as ‘Miss Fortune’, comes from a poor but titled family. After being rebuked harshly by the man she thought she loved, she leaves for the Cherbon lands, determined (and I do mean determined) to win the man and the fortune he’s offering to heal her damaged pride and save her family from ruins. But the ‘Cherbon Devil’ turns out to be more than Micheala bargained for at first – can she even hope to tame the beast?
The first thing that I liked, right off, was the uniqueness of the time period. There are so many Beauty and the Beast tales set in the Regency period that it was nice to see one in a different era, during 1103 and the Crusades. The dialogue was active and engaging, and I loved seeing things from Roderick and Micheala’s point of view. Both were especially poignant, and very different from the other. I liked seeing how their differences made them so compatible. I loved seeing her go from a childish, light-hearted dreamer to a more serious and mature, but still kind and caring, woman. I loved seeing her share her light with Roderick. This book actually reminded me a bit of Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (one of my all time favorites) because of Micheala’s persistence to help Roderick see the good in himself, and his insistence to only see the worst in himself.
Roderick was a heartbreaking character. His abusive father instilled in him a sense of his own worthlessness, and he went to the Crusades hoping to prove his worth. Instead he comes back a failure in his own mind, crippled, missing a leg, and scarred beyond compare. He feels no one can love him as he is - a disgusting failure. He repulses himself, and is so filled with his own self-loathing he can’t find a way to escape it. He, just like Dain in Lord of Scoundrels, is a perfect dark, brooding, angsty hero who tries to hide his pain in his cruel words and actions to other. I loved his fear of being loved because he’d never been loved before, his child-like uncertainty. He was just so… perfect. I was piling on the empathy for this man. My heart still breaks for him.
Lady Micheala Fortune was admirable and loveable. She kept hoping even when it was hopeless, and was the right blend of patient and relentless. She never stopped loving him, or telling/showing him she loved him. I liked watching her change from a girl into a woman without losing any of her fabulous qualities. I loved her guts – how she was willing to yell at Roderick whenever he yelled at her, and how she never left. She was the only kind of heroine to help Roderick, and she made him whole again - or perhaps for the first time ever. She, just as he grew, also really blossomed in my eyes. I especially loved her motherly sentiments towards Leo, Roderick’s son, and how she brought the father and son closer together. (Again, Lord of Scoundrels, anyone?)
All in all, with the sweet little boy, Leo, the wonderful mother-figure Micheala, and the wounded hero father, Roderick, could one have a more perfect family?
Now, one short paragraph of what knocked this book from A+ position. The dialogue was a little inconsistent for the time period. Some of the sentences seemed accurate in structure but others included words or phrases that seemed too modern. Whether they were, I’m not certain, but I had to question the authenticity of the syntax for the time period. The ending was my biggest problem – it was unrealistically happy. Everyone’s friends and ***BIG BIG BIG SPOILER ALERT HERE*** Roderick’s leg that is missing gets healed-ish by some freaky ‘Justice’ man. I hate to say it, but the soldiers over in Iraq who have their legs blown off, despite the injustice of it, don’t get new legs all of a sudden. I really disliked how unrealistic that was. ***END OF BIG BIG BIG SPOILER ALERT***. I like happy endings, but this was completely unrealistic, which surprised me. The rest of the book focused on the realism of Roderick’s injuries, and the very end seemed to make all his previous struggles negligible for the sake of the perfection of the ending. It was too much a fairy tale ending, especially compared to the rest of the book. It just didn’t match and felt forced, and that definitely pulled the book down in my esteem. Finally, the villain was tots cliché. But I was expecting that.
“Sexy”ness rating: More tender than flaming hot, but there is sex
Overall Rating: A-
Bottom Line: Sweet and beautiful, with a unique setting and good dialogue (and a fabulous cast of characters) this is def worth your time!
November 23, 2022
All through this story I kept feeling like I had read it before…hate when that happens😖 but I still enjoyed 😉
October 23, 2015
I have to say this surprised me. The story lagged in the beginning but once it picked it up I enjoyed it. Wasn't as great as I was hoping it would be. It had the classic beauty-and-the-beast theme but with a darker edge. I really enjoyed the hero in this Roderick Cherbon, who is far from perfect. Yes he was brooding, mean, short-tempered but I understood him. I didn't know what to make of the heroine at first, Michaela who came off naive, immature and a bit self-serving in the beginning then dramatically turned into a out-spoken opinionated adult within a few chapters. It threw me for a loop because she was presented more like an innocent young incredibly naive girl in the beginning chapter and then changed all of a sudden to this mature, demanding take-no-prisoners woman in the next few chapters. The change was so abrupt that I didn't buy it. It was unrealistic for me. I didn't get where the dramatic shift in personality came from.
*SPOILER WARNING*
The last 5-6 chapters is what sucked me and kind of saved the book for me. I wasn't really sold on the H/HR pairing, I just didn't buy them as a couple in love it seemed to focus more on Michaela taking care of the household, being a mother-figure to Leo etc. I do wish the romantic aspect was pushed more in this and went deeper because I thought it came off very one-dimensional. Speaking of relationships, I loved the relationship and history between the hero and his best friend Hugh Gilbert and I have to say I was surprised, shocked yet intrigued with where the author took it. I'm usually good at picking up where certain characters are going or what's going to happen but this was one of those 'woah!' moments for me. It's not that I didn't see it I saw a few hints here and there, it was more of the surprise that she took it there. I love her for doing it though and applaud her for it cause it pulled at my heart and made me kind of root for the best friend at times. Haha! A first for me! Cause those kind of stories/piarings to be honest aren't my thing. But I must say that scene by the water's edge blew me away.
Just read the scene where Hugh desperately tries to save Roderick with every ounce of his being and then tell me where you would stand. That scene really got to me and stood out from the entire book. So intense, gut-wrenching and emotional. Me loved it! :P
To be honest, that scene destroyed any notion of a H/HR pairing in this. For me at least. Through most of the story I struggled with imagining Michaela being 'it' for Roderick. Many times I felt the chemistry was lacking plus the author spent little time showing them connect or spend quality time together. While I understood the angst and separation it still felt incredibly disjointed and odd. There was only one love scene and while sweet and poignant I felt it was overall lacking. But seeing Hugh struggle and yearn for something he couldn't have broke my heart. I got more passion and deap-yearning longing from him then I did from Michaela. Which kind of sucks. And watching Hugh almost sacrifice himself and beat the life into Roderick had me wishing Michaela was the one to walk away. Which isn't a good sign. To me, I felt the author got it backward here and why I struggled with this book a little. I felt what Hugh and Roderick shared and Hugh felt for him was so much more powerful and believable. I kept rooting for him and found myself wishing he didn't leave. So it just made the H/HR pairing in this look sub par and unsatisfactory. And just underwhelming.
And a side note, if there is an award out there for most adorable young character ever written in a book it should go to little Leo Cherbon. What a little cutie pie. I wanted to pull him out of the book and put him in my pocket and carry him around. His babble talk and infectious innocence and charm was so sweet and fun to read about. I loved the close bond he had with Hugh ('Hoo' as he's affectionately referred to) Roderick and Michaela as well. There was a little magic/fantasy in this which to be honest I could have done without but it was fun to read about nonetheless.
*SPOILER WARNING*
The last 5-6 chapters is what sucked me and kind of saved the book for me. I wasn't really sold on the H/HR pairing, I just didn't buy them as a couple in love it seemed to focus more on Michaela taking care of the household, being a mother-figure to Leo etc. I do wish the romantic aspect was pushed more in this and went deeper because I thought it came off very one-dimensional. Speaking of relationships, I loved the relationship and history between the hero and his best friend Hugh Gilbert and I have to say I was surprised, shocked yet intrigued with where the author took it. I'm usually good at picking up where certain characters are going or what's going to happen but this was one of those 'woah!' moments for me. It's not that I didn't see it I saw a few hints here and there, it was more of the surprise that she took it there. I love her for doing it though and applaud her for it cause it pulled at my heart and made me kind of root for the best friend at times. Haha! A first for me! Cause those kind of stories/piarings to be honest aren't my thing. But I must say that scene by the water's edge blew me away.
Just read the scene where Hugh desperately tries to save Roderick with every ounce of his being and then tell me where you would stand. That scene really got to me and stood out from the entire book. So intense, gut-wrenching and emotional. Me loved it! :P
To be honest, that scene destroyed any notion of a H/HR pairing in this. For me at least. Through most of the story I struggled with imagining Michaela being 'it' for Roderick. Many times I felt the chemistry was lacking plus the author spent little time showing them connect or spend quality time together. While I understood the angst and separation it still felt incredibly disjointed and odd. There was only one love scene and while sweet and poignant I felt it was overall lacking. But seeing Hugh struggle and yearn for something he couldn't have broke my heart. I got more passion and deap-yearning longing from him then I did from Michaela. Which kind of sucks. And watching Hugh almost sacrifice himself and beat the life into Roderick had me wishing Michaela was the one to walk away. Which isn't a good sign. To me, I felt the author got it backward here and why I struggled with this book a little. I felt what Hugh and Roderick shared and Hugh felt for him was so much more powerful and believable. I kept rooting for him and found myself wishing he didn't leave. So it just made the H/HR pairing in this look sub par and unsatisfactory. And just underwhelming.
And a side note, if there is an award out there for most adorable young character ever written in a book it should go to little Leo Cherbon. What a little cutie pie. I wanted to pull him out of the book and put him in my pocket and carry him around. His babble talk and infectious innocence and charm was so sweet and fun to read about. I loved the close bond he had with Hugh ('Hoo' as he's affectionately referred to) Roderick and Michaela as well. There was a little magic/fantasy in this which to be honest I could have done without but it was fun to read about nonetheless.
July 7, 2017
Re-tellings of the Beauty and the Beast fable are like catnip to me - I just can't resist them. I wish I had resisted this one, though. The story just never captured my attention, and I didn't connect with any of the characters.
I also didn't care for the supernatural element of The Hunt and the riders in that posse. I just felt it was weird throwing that into the story, and it felt a little forced. I will admit if "Taming the Beast" is part of a series, I have not read any of the other novels (and probably won't read anything else written by Heather Grothaus) so maybe there was a logical, and justified reason this supernatural inclusion. Still, I didn't think it was necessary, and rolled my eyes that Michael, the leader of the Hunt, granted Michaela a boon by giving the H of the story a supernatural "boot" that allowed him to regain most of his mobility, which he lost fighting in the Crusades.
Another thing I didn't buy into was the about face from Lady Juliet. For most of the book, she was a horrible, wretched witch, but by the end of the story, she's a lovely woman. Furthermore, her stepdaughter - who hated her, now loves her stepmom. It's unrealistic for me, that a character could change so much, since people are basically who they are by the time they are in their early adulthood.
The only one thing I liked about this novel was that the heroine was not entirely self-sacrificing in deciding to marry Roderick. In so many other B&B stories, the Beauty is indeed sacrificed to the Beast. But here, by marrying Roderick, her mission is two-fold: help her parents (by lessening their tax burden) and sticking it to both Lord Alan and his wife the odious Lady Juliet. As Roderick's wife, Michaela would be their superior in title and position.
Still, this one nugget is not enough for me to assign more than 2 stars.
I also didn't care for the supernatural element of The Hunt and the riders in that posse. I just felt it was weird throwing that into the story, and it felt a little forced. I will admit if "Taming the Beast" is part of a series, I have not read any of the other novels (and probably won't read anything else written by Heather Grothaus) so maybe there was a logical, and justified reason this supernatural inclusion. Still, I didn't think it was necessary, and rolled my eyes that Michael, the leader of the Hunt, granted Michaela a boon by giving the H of the story a supernatural "boot" that allowed him to regain most of his mobility, which he lost fighting in the Crusades.
Another thing I didn't buy into was the about face from Lady Juliet. For most of the book, she was a horrible, wretched witch, but by the end of the story, she's a lovely woman. Furthermore, her stepdaughter - who hated her, now loves her stepmom. It's unrealistic for me, that a character could change so much, since people are basically who they are by the time they are in their early adulthood.
The only one thing I liked about this novel was that the heroine was not entirely self-sacrificing in deciding to marry Roderick. In so many other B&B stories, the Beauty is indeed sacrificed to the Beast. But here, by marrying Roderick, her mission is two-fold: help her parents (by lessening their tax burden) and sticking it to both Lord Alan and his wife the odious Lady Juliet. As Roderick's wife, Michaela would be their superior in title and position.
Still, this one nugget is not enough for me to assign more than 2 stars.
May 14, 2020
✔️Idk but I really liked this book, insomuch that I stayed up late into the wee hours reading! Knocked it out in about 5ish hours and what a nice surprise from this totally random book choice.
Now I’m a sucker for a dark & tortured soul of a man, which is definitely what Roderick was (as well as physical limitations). Plus this was a bit of a rags to riches story with Michaela and I’m a sucker for those as well.
However l, this whole story was just well done! The characters were very relatable (Hugh & Leo!! ❤️) and some of the plot twists were merely hinted at so when they came on they felt real, gritty and tied together well with the main story.
This did have a little bit of a supernatural storyline weaved through, which normally I wouldn’t care for in a book like this...I’m an all or nuthin’ girl.....But, it was a delicate level of supernatural and was peppered in throughout the whole story so it wasn’t a shock. The “hunt” theme was actually pretty engaging instead of annoying!
Cons: honestly, there weren’t many. BUT if I had it my way I DO wish there were more sexy bits. I realize the struggle with intimacy was a large part of the plot BUT yeah, I would’ve liked to have had more than the one encounter! Additionally, I would have liked the one encounter to be more of a big deal!
Overall: omg YES, absolutely a good read!
Now I’m a sucker for a dark & tortured soul of a man, which is definitely what Roderick was (as well as physical limitations). Plus this was a bit of a rags to riches story with Michaela and I’m a sucker for those as well.
However l, this whole story was just well done! The characters were very relatable (Hugh & Leo!! ❤️) and some of the plot twists were merely hinted at so when they came on they felt real, gritty and tied together well with the main story.
This did have a little bit of a supernatural storyline weaved through, which normally I wouldn’t care for in a book like this...I’m an all or nuthin’ girl.....But, it was a delicate level of supernatural and was peppered in throughout the whole story so it wasn’t a shock. The “hunt” theme was actually pretty engaging instead of annoying!
Cons: honestly, there weren’t many. BUT if I had it my way I DO wish there were more sexy bits. I realize the struggle with intimacy was a large part of the plot BUT yeah, I would’ve liked to have had more than the one encounter! Additionally, I would have liked the one encounter to be more of a big deal!
Overall: omg YES, absolutely a good read!
February 5, 2012
I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book. I'm paying for it today, but it was worth it.
While certainly not perfect, I really enjoyed reading it and will probably read it again one day. I loved, loved, loved Hugh. I thought that he stole every scene he was in, to be honest. And when his big "secret" was brought into the open, I was like "I knew it!"
Michaela was very likable as well, but she has a lot more patience than I do. But that may be why she's the heroine of a romance novel and I'm perpetually single.
Roderick was just sexy. I love a brooding, tortured man... at least, in a book. IRL, I would have dumped his ass or at least suggested therapy and strong medication.
I liked the fact that there was a long time before the characters finally met. It gave it a good build up, and allowed me to get to know the characters outside of their relationship.
I needed a translator for Leo, though. I'm not good with toddler speak, especially when it's written.
Without giving too much away, I did like the paranormal aspect of it. I've heard of the folklore before (mainly from European death metal bands), so it was nice to see the author's take on it. However, the boot made me scratch my head a little.
All in all, probably one of my favorite romance novels.
While certainly not perfect, I really enjoyed reading it and will probably read it again one day. I loved, loved, loved Hugh. I thought that he stole every scene he was in, to be honest. And when his big "secret" was brought into the open, I was like "I knew it!"
Michaela was very likable as well, but she has a lot more patience than I do. But that may be why she's the heroine of a romance novel and I'm perpetually single.
Roderick was just sexy. I love a brooding, tortured man... at least, in a book. IRL, I would have dumped his ass or at least suggested therapy and strong medication.
I liked the fact that there was a long time before the characters finally met. It gave it a good build up, and allowed me to get to know the characters outside of their relationship.
I needed a translator for Leo, though. I'm not good with toddler speak, especially when it's written.
Without giving too much away, I did like the paranormal aspect of it. I've heard of the folklore before (mainly from European death metal bands), so it was nice to see the author's take on it. However, the boot made me scratch my head a little.
All in all, probably one of my favorite romance novels.
January 3, 2011
The first novel I have read from this Author and will certainly be reading her others. Set in medieval times, a period that I am reading more and more of, this is the story of Roderick Cherbon, who returns from the Crusades a wounded man, in his physical appearance and in his soul. To retain his land and title after his father's death he must marry. Not such an easy thing due to his reputation and his appearance.
Along comes Lady Michaela Fortune seeking Roderick's offer in an effort to cause some pain to Roderick's cousin, a man she believed herself in love with, and who had chosen another to wed.
This is a really quick and easy read, the story flows along nicely and has some great background characters.
Along comes Lady Michaela Fortune seeking Roderick's offer in an effort to cause some pain to Roderick's cousin, a man she believed herself in love with, and who had chosen another to wed.
This is a really quick and easy read, the story flows along nicely and has some great background characters.
January 10, 2013
I absolutely LOVE Beauty and the Beast type stories. Nothing makes for better reading than a tortured/scarred/reclusive hero who pushes everyone away...and the strength and determination of one woman that will stop at nothing to soften and win his heart. A wonderful storyline, with much emotion and a few very surprising twists. I loved the characters, especially Lady Michaela. She was a perfect match for Roderick. I loved that she never backed down and didn't cower at any of his insults. I wish more heroines in my historicals were like her, what a refreshing change. A hard one to put down once you start reading. My first from this author and was truly impressed. Well done!
December 24, 2011
This book was an awesome read. You have a dark castle, a darker Lord and a fair maiden. Lord Roderick is scarred physically as well as emotionally and Lady Michaela has her own emotional upheavals. Even though Lord Roderick behaved absolutely horrendous at times, Micheala never gives up fighting for their happiness. The foil to these 2 would Hugh and Leo. The interactions of these characters making the story heartwarming. It's an excellent read for those who love beauty and the beast genre.
August 22, 2014
This is different from the normal Scottish historical romance that I like to read but I ended up quite enjoying the book. I like how the author develops the relationship between Michaela and Roderick and the other characters that appear In the book. All in all I enjoyed the book and I found myself wishing it hadn't ended and wanting to read more about the characters even though the author tied everything up well at the end.
November 18, 2011
It was not what I expected. It was diferent from the traditional romantic history story which was a good thing, it included a little bit of lets say paranormal tinge to it. I liked it a lot, sort of a feel good. It was a really good book safe for a few obvious things and the ednding (consider the las few pages) fell a little short. But I highly recomend it!
August 8, 2012
I like books with themes of scarred heroes and I liked this one, but one and only problems was that I waited for this book for like two months and I expected to much.
Biggest plus and why this book got four and not three stars is because of little Leo, I loved his character so much. He was one amazing little baby boy. :D
Biggest plus and why this book got four and not three stars is because of little Leo, I loved his character so much. He was one amazing little baby boy. :D
September 13, 2016
4 stars for enjoyment, probably 2.5 for quality. Not gonna lie, the ending is ridiculous; even though its been hinted at the whole way through the book, its still seems random and hilarious. Its very distracting from the rest of the story but, otherwise, I found this an enjoyable read with likeable characters.
April 22, 2020
Absolutely mesmerising. The blend of historical and fantasy was seamlessly done and made for an exciting tale. A scarred hero, a unlikely lady and a timeless love that started on the battlefield. So many elements that combined to make this a tragic, alluring, fantastical, happy-ever-after tale. Worth the read!! Would love to know that Hugh found his own love though.
October 10, 2012
Over all, I thought it was a good book. It was a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. My only problem was really the love scene. It had barely begun, before it was over. The whole Hugh thing was a bit of a twist, but didn't take away from the story.
March 6, 2010
Rather anachronistic, but very enjoyable.
December 17, 2011
hated the ending
May 26, 2013
I am a true sucker for anything Beauty and the Beast related. I was happy to find this book well written as well as a favorite story line.
October 31, 2012
This book is amazing. If you like Beauty and the Beast like books this one is a good one to read. It takes the story to an all new level.
June 30, 2013
i loved this one . 5 +++
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