Review: Beauty of the Beast by Rachel L. Demeter

Beauty of the Beast

Author: Rachel L. Demeter

Release Date: March 15, 2017

Publisher: Self-Published

Fairy Tale Retellings Book #1

ISBN:   1542972566 

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

Experience the world’s most enchanting and timeless love story—retold with a dark and realistic twist.

A BEAST LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF HIS PAST

Reclusive and severely scarred Prince Adam Delacroix has remained hidden inside a secluded, decrepit castle ever since he witnessed his family’s brutal massacre. Cloaked in shadow, with only the lamentations of past ghosts for company, he has abandoned all hope, allowing the world to believe he died on that tragic eve twenty-five years ago.

A BEAUTY IN PURSUIT OF A BETTER FUTURE

Caught in a fierce snowstorm, beautiful and strong-willed Isabelle Rose seeks shelter at a castle—unaware that its beastly and disfigured master is much more than he appears to be. When he imprisons her gravely ill and blind father, she bravely offers herself in his place.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Stripped of his emotional defenses, Adam’s humanity reawakens as he encounters a kindred soul in Isabelle. Together they will wade through darkness and discover beauty and passion in the most unlikely of places. But when a monster from Isabelle’s former life threatens their new love, Demrov’s forgotten prince must emerge from his shadows and face the world once more…

Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty of the Beast brings a familiar and well-loved fairy tale to life with a rich setting in the kingdom of Demrov and a captivating, Gothic voice.

BEAUTY OF THE BEAST was a beautifully written twist on Beauty and the Beast—with a little bit of a Cinderella feel mixed in.

I was completely engrossed in BEAUTY OF THE BEAST from the beginning. You quickly get a feel for Isabelle's inner strength as she finds a way to take her ailing father and flee from the monster of a man she agreed to marry before he showed his true colors. A little of Isabelle's heart is shown when she tries to get her greedy step-sisters to come with her even though they make both her and her fathers life miserable to try and save them from poverty when they're gone. Her strong will makes an appearance when she approaches a castle in a snow storm and demands shelter for her and her ill father from the man that tries to turn them away. Adam is bitter due to the cards that he has been dealt in life. It took me a little bit to warm up to him, but his true colors start to bleed through as Isabelle awakens his heart and shows him how to live and trust again.

As a couple, Isabelle and Adam were amazing. They both had issues that had to be worked through, but both had a way of helping the other grow. I never doubted their connection or relationship—even though they both doubted it at multiple points throughout the story.

The world was fantastic. I'm not really a fan of historical settings, but I was so engrossed in the characters and storyline I hardly noticed. I loved every single second of BEAUTY OF THE BEAST and wish there was more story to read, but I was pleased with how things ended. I'm excited to see what story Rachel Demeter brings to life next.

I gave it 5/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Early Review: The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross

The Deepest Well

Author: Juliette Cross

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Age of Gray Book #1

ISBN:   1619233371

ISBN13: 9781619233379

Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: Author

Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.

Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld. But a golden-haired beauty derails his plans and stirs an attraction he’s never felt before, not even for his centuries-dead wife.

Discovering Lord Blakely is in league with Damas, George sweeps Katherine away from the chaos and devilry threatening her life. With every touch, their love grows by joyful leaps and bounds.

Sensing his enemy’s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart…and destroy his own.

Warning: Contains wolves in gentlemen’s clothing, a precipitous descent into Hell, and a frightening glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world where angels and demons wage war for dominion on earth.

I don't know why I didn't put it together before, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized THE DEEPEST WELL tells the story of how Kat and George from The Vessel Trilogy met and fell in love and the hardships that they faced.

Kat and George's relationship has always been a mystery to me and THE DEEPEST WELL really cleared up all the questions I had about them as individuals and as a couple. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I had no problem enjoying this book one bit. I knew Kat was a strong woman, but meeting her as Katherine really cemented how strong of a woman she really was. It would be impossible to not like George, his character just jumps off the pages. He's loyal, strong and ready to right Katherine's world. Unfortunately nothing is easy for this couple and there is a lot of heartache between the pages. I absolutely loved that Cross fast forwards us to what happened after the events of BOUND IN BLACK at the end of this book so that we see how Katherine and George end up.

I really enjoyed THE DEEPEST WELL and consider it a must read if you are a Juliette Cross fan and have already read her Vessel Trilogy. New to Juliette Cross? You will love it too and I don't feel you need to read her other books to fall in love with Katherine and George's story.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.