When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

Setting: Regency

*Book 2 in Eloisa’s Fairy Tales series*

Summary:

Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she’s betrothed to a Beast.

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.

Linnet is not just any woman.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.

Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.

If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?

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Review:

“For who could ever learn to love a beast?”

We’re all familiar with the story of Beauty and her Beast and this update by romance veteran Eloisa James does an amazing job of creating a whole new original story that still has all the magic and the core lesson of the original fairy tale, which is things are always more than they appear. This was by far, the best romance I read this year-It was deliciously plotted, hilarious, sexy, deeply touching and downright magical!

Linnet and her Beast, Piers, are both people who are more than their labels-both are deeply intelligent and passionate people who completely deserve each other. Their romance is sweet, spicy, magnetic and will make you laugh, cry and sigh with satisfaction when you reach the end. You will fall in love! These two delightful characters are surrounded by a cast of well-crafted secondary characters-some hilarious, but all highly entertaining.

The story itself is so well-written and was one of the big strengths of this book. Despite knowing more or less the story of this book, we are given fresh scenes, hilarious scenarios and unpredictable twists. I just couldn’t put it down, it was so addictive! The conversations had to be one of my favorite parts of this book-though they were slightly modern in tone, they were all delightfully witty and some laugh-out-loud hilarious! There was no obvious magic in the book (no enchanted furniture) but there was the best kind of magic-that in the blossoming of love between the two lead characters.

I thought this was an ingenious adaptation of a well-loved fairytale. So if you’re looking for a great, hilarious, witty, deeply touching, well plotted, R-rated fairytale, look no further. And if you’re not, well, pick this book up anyway cause trust me, it’s worth it!

Sensuality Rating: Hot (Love scenes are long and explicit)

Verdict: Absolutely splendid!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Setting: Pre-Victorian 1837

*The first book in the Turner trilogy*

Summary:

Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family, and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But when he arrives, he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.…

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion….

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Review:

This book shows why Courtney Milan is one of my must buy authors. An absolutely brilliant novel that kept me up all night just to finish it! Can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!

Courtney’s new trilogy features three brothers who have recently come into a large fortune, thanks to the efforts of our hero for this book, Ash Turner. He uncovers the old duke’s fake marriage and gets ready to take his revenge on that family. Unfortunately for him, the woman he sets his sights on is also the daughter of the duke he wants to have his revenge on.

I adored Ash Turner. I loved his strength, his vulnerabilities and his fierce loyalty to his brothers. I even loved his stubbornness. He is one of the best heroes I’ve read to date. I enjoyed how he wooed our heroine even under the guise of a servant and how he wanted to marry her despite her ‘supposed’ station. He made shiver through several scenes with his charm and his bare sincerity. Now this is a hero I would gladly stay up for!

As for Margaret the heroine, I felt like I could really relate to her. At the end of the day, she was just a young woman trying to find herself and I loved how Ash made her see her own value. She was smart and very real and I rooted for her happy ending.  The sexual tension was spot on and I loved seeing how Margaret who initially disliked Ash eventually fell for his charm and *ahem* sex appeal

I LOVE the way Courtney writes! I love how she goes above and beyond the typical romance. I love the depth in this novel and I love the wisdom and great insight into these character’s emotions and lives.  You feel like you really know them, and you feel what they feel and you want them to be happy so much. The secondary characters were also well-fleshed out and I enjoyed the peek at Ash’s two brothers.

This was more of a plot-driven novel, but it had enough heart to drive it emotionally as well. There were exciting things going on outside around the characters and between the characters as they slowly fell in love. The perfect mix!

There are no predictable misunderstanding dramas in this book, which I also found very refreshing. Instead of the typical ‘Oh-you-lied-to-me, I-hate-you’ scenario, we get a nail biting twisting unpredictable end. I was up the whole night; half thinking things weren’t going to be ok!

Pick this one up-you’re guaranteed an amazing read!!!

Sensuality Rating: Pretty Hot (Love scenes are quite long and explicit)

Verdict: Perfect beginning to a great new series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Hottest Debut This Month…

 

Click on the cover for more info…

If you haven’t read it already, be sure to pick up Lecia Cornwall’s new book, which is being talked about EVERYWHERE. Not to mention being praised to the roof by readers, critics and even the publishers at Avon!

Here’s what the editor at Avon Romance has to say about the new novel…

And after that, go and check out Lecia’a list of the Best (and Worst) Reasons to Live in the Regency Period and score a chance to win her book…

http://www.fictionvixen.com/2011/03/guest-post-giveaway-author-lecia-cornwall.html