Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale. I thought selling myself to a mafia boss was noble. So what if they called him the Beast? I grew up in rags, and he would lift me to riches. All I had to do was give him my soul. He was punishing. Insatiable. Captivating. Nothing like I expected him to be. Each day my reality blurred, leaving me wondering if I was slave or princess.The longer I … princess.
The longer I stayed, the more I lost myself to him. Even after every cruelty the Beast visited upon me, I longed for his touch. Even after every savage word he spoke, I begged for his lips. I thought the worst thing he could take was my body. I was too naïve to guard my heart.
Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale.
Now I know better than to speak of happily ever afters.
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This was one fantastic book with great character and storyline development that kept me totally hooked as I turned the pages until the very end!
I read quiet a few book freely inspired from the beauty and the beast, but this one is quiet fare from the original story. Even if I found some part are a bit slowish and the action of few characters are put in a clumsy way , I really like the darkness of it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book wasn’t anything like I thought it would be. I don’t usually read mafia stories, but this guy was actually a good man underneath his exterior. A worthwhile read.
I hated the ending. I like the happy ever after and I just didn’t see that in this book. It was unrealistic but I couldn’t put it down.
This is part of a series, the ending did not resolve things.
Beast is the first book in the Hate Story duet by Mary Catherine Gebhard and focuses on Beauty and Beast. Imagine if you thought love was a fairytale. This isn’t too far from what Beauty believes and that by selling herself to the Mafia to save her father she would get her HEA. But what happens when her prince is a Beast. Captivating, domineering, harsh and punishing are but a few words that can be used to describe Beast and here begins the story of Beauty’s fall down the rabbit hole and what she must do to survive it with her heart and body intact. (Cue dramatic music)
Beauty (Frankie) and Beast are really complex characters who throughout this book just seem to keep missing each other’s points and the first sexy scene between the two just didn’t do it for me at all but the rest of the book was okay if a little long. You never really get into the might of Frankie or the Beast but do see small smatterings of their POV and psyche throughout the novel.
This book is a Mafia novel and you do see small aspects of that throughout the book and what lengths people will go to too get to the top.
Overall this is a good first book in the dark romance, mafia genre.
ARC received for a fair and honest review.
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: https://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
I felt like this was more of a suspense/thriller than a romance
There is a lot going on within the story that actually involves multiple characters and possibilities- I get that there is supposedly a relationship between Frankie and Beast -and there is to a degree -but I was drawn more to the events surrounding the two main characters – Why is A so aggressive about getting rid of Frankie? What is up with Gabby and Nikolai? What are they after? Are they for or against Frankie? Are the wolves whom we think they are or are they going to go rabid? I think I was left with even more questions with the cliff hanger —
Once I got into the story line I was hooked. Had to purchase second to see what happened next.
Enjoyed it very much. A little bloody at times but very good.
Great begining looking forward to the continuation
This is the first in a set of two books, and I like that it’s not one of those series that drags out. It’s full of action and twists, but it’s also very dark. The story of a young woman who offers herself to a mafia man in order to clear her fathers debt and save his life. There are many surprises in store and I highly recommend both books. Beauty is the second book, and well worth a look!
Enjoyed this book. Romantic and rough at the same time
I didn’t like it at first, then it grew on me. The second book was better.
Alpha is horrible and unbelievable
not believable
The story has intensity. The Beast is cruel, yet craves her. Their relationship was compelling and drew me in. Helped me escape daily life.
Really got into the characters in this book, which I hadn’t expected to. One of those books that you hate to put down, but stall reading the last few pages cause you hate for it to end. Now I have to read the second book to see what happens to everyone.