Ellie came to me with a bargain. Her life for her father’s, but I didn’t build my empire by letting debts go unpaid. You owe me, you pay. End of story. But this girl didn’t just walk in shaking and begging for mercy- no, Ellie charged in demanding her father’s freedom.
I take her deal, adding my own conditions, of course. I’m not a good man. I’m a beast, and my hunger for her will be fed. I will … a good man. I’m a beast, and my hunger for her will be fed. I will possess her.
But there’s more at play here than just the love of a daughter, the possession of a beauty. Secrets that won’t stay buried. Dangerous desires needing to be explored.
Outside forces want in, want to take what’s mine. And when Ellie finds out the secrets of her own past, she’ll need to decide. What exactly is she willing to risk for love.
HEA but with twists to make it original. Well developed characters and satisfying love story. No cliffhanger.
Hot, spicy and figure licking good. Terrific FMC and interesting world created for this series. Unique plotline and robust characters. Well worth the read and follow through with the sequels.
This is a dark twisted retale of Beauty & the Beast. Ellie trades herself to repay her father’s gambling debt. However, he plays for keeps and what he wants is Ellie to obey and follow his rules. What he finds is a strong, smart, curious woman who will help him but will also bring so much trouble to him . The story is edgy and the characters dark, and dangerous but the end will justify the means and an HEA.
I loved the mafia element, the BDSM, and the dominant alpha male leader who falls in love with his captive. She learns to love his kink.
Some syntax and spelling errors kept it from being a 5.
Beast — Measha Stone — In a blend of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, being sold to the Annex club owner to cover her father’s gambling debts may be the best thing that ever happened to Ellie. After her mother’s death, Ellie has been working her tail off to take care of her gambling father and the family coffee shop with art classes squashed in where she can. Ash realizes that he is instantly attracted and protective of the woman who volunteered to take her father’s place, but Ellie creates a danger to herself and to him when the wrong sicko gets obsessed with her. Good thing Ellie and Ash have been built tough by life. Enjoy this grown up HEA! Happy Reading!
This review is for the audiobook version.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This is a very adult spin on a classic fairy tale. There are different ways to identify a beast and Mr. St. Clair does a great job in showing Ash’s side of that. I wasn’t too sure in the beginning if I was going to enjoy listening to him but as the story went on, he made me both a fan of his and of this series. Whenever I want my fairy tale fix, the adult version, I will make sure that this is at the top of my list.
The author has done a great job of getting me to forget the Disney version of this tale. After listening to her take, I’m not so sure that I’ll ever think of the Beast as anything else. She’s turned Ellie’s story around as well – not the white as snow woman that you might normally think of. But that doesn’t mean that she’s not a little naive about some things. Once she meets Ash, she seems to blossom.
Depending on how much hot you like in your story, this may just short your earbuds out. It’s a longer story than some but once I really got into what Mr. St. Clair was telling me, everything seemed to disappear and time meant nothing. That also shows how well the author did on putting her spin on these characters. Even Ellie’s father is not what you expect and that shows that the author has made this her own – not trying to copy the original. The author doesn’t include smut for smut’s sake. Her scenes flow nicely and everything seems plausible. I could picture any of her characters living in any of the big cities. Could see myself walking around that city listening to this book and picturing the scenes as I go by buildings and some of the fancier homes.
Would I listen to this book again? Yes, I would. Would I read the book? That I’m on the fence about since I enjoyed listening to this so much. I also have the next two books on my wish list – especially since they’re told by one of my favorite narrators. Would I follow the narrator and author? Yes to both. So, if you like a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast you just might enjoy it too.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This is the first book I have read by Measha Stone, I have gotten a taste of her work before in the Black Light: Roulette Redux (Black Light Series Book 7) Anthologies but this is the first standalone and WOW what a one to start with. This book had everything I hope for in a darker read and the narration really pulled me into the story.
We start off with Ellie’s father being beaten and taken away to be dealt with after borrowing money and not paying it back, you see Ellie’s father has a bad gambling habit and she is constantly bailing him out only this time he might just pay with his life. But here’s the kicker Ellie decides to go straight to the source “The Beast” and talk to Ashland Titon himself, after all he’s the one her father owes the money too. Only he owes so much that Ellie has no choice but to sacrifice her life for her fathers, and boy oh boy do things get interesting from here.
Ash is someone many people fear but Ellie has no issue standing up to him which his men find amusing and so did I. This book has some very spicy scenes which I loved but overall I really enjoyed the story of Ellie and Ash finding their way together and overcoming various obstacles that were in their way. The secondary Characters were great as well and Peter’s story is up next in a Rapunzel retelling in Tower which I am really looking forward to reading.
If you enjoy Fairy Tale Retelling, Darker Reads, BDSM Romances, or Organized Crime Romances I would recommend this book to you. I would also recommend the audiobook version of this book because the narrator, Smokey St. Clair, did a FANTASTIC job with making me feel as if I was right there as things were unfolding like I was a fly on the wall watching everything happen.
Happy Reading!!!
Deliciously dark retelling of beauty and the beast!
I have been on a fairytale rewrite kick lately. I have just been gobbling these stories. Measha Stone was an unknown author to me but since I am always up for discover new authors!
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Overall Rating:
Kindle Unlimited: yes
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This was a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Ashland and Ellie. Ellie’s father is in trouble and owes the wrong person a lot of money, Ash is that wrong person. So when his men come to collect and Ellie witnesses her dad being dragged away, she decides she is going to save him.
Ellie makes a deal with Ash to save her father…her life for his and Ash accepts. Of course neither one of the characters are going to just give into the deal. There are some BDSM elements in this book and there are numerous steamy scenes.
The characters fight each other, but as they fight they grow closer but is it enough for a HEA? You will have to read to find out. Peter’s book is next and it’s a Rupunzel retelling and I liked Peter in this book so I have decided sleep is overrated and I am gonna jump right into book 2, Tower! I enjoyed this book and will keep reading!
I really enjoy this author Marsha Stone. She takes you with the characters on their journey. You feel everything they feel !!!
This book is an adult take on “Beauty and the Beast” and it is oh, so hot! The story is great and the characters are well detailed which hooked me right in from the very first page! However, it is the chemistry between Ash and Ellie that kept me totally captivated as I read this book in one evening!
I absolutely adored Ashland and Ellie’s story.
Ashland Titan is a beast but what a beast he is. Strong, dominant, edgy and wicked. With his beautiful Ellie held captive and a twisty plotline, Beast is a must read
Wasn’t impressed with this book. I have read lots of books with this type of relationship. I just didn’t feel the relationship was a positive one. Just not my style.
I didn’t expect to like the book as much as I did. Aside from the steamy parts the story-line shocked and amazed me.
Liked the story and writing but like so many ebooks these days, not the complete story. So frustrating to have to buy several books to get get complete story.
A somewhat darker re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
Mafia version of Beauty and the Beast. Lots of steamy sex with feisty heroine and warm hearted alpha male.
Didn’t want to put it down. Not into the pain stuff but the main female character didn’t seem to mind. I enjoyed it; entertaining.
Great read!
This is my first Measha Stone story and I have to say I really really enjoyed it. She retells Beauty and the Beast in an interesting and very sexual way.
When Ellie goes to save her father from his gambling debt and gives herself up to protect him she has little idea on what she really is getting into.
Ash is the man her father owes a lot of money to. Everyone knows he is into bad things. Ellie expects that she will be put into his Annex, but is surprised when he chooses to keep her for himself. What Ash puts her through is a mental and sexual game that she is not ready for and in the end neither is he.
I really liked Ellie and Ash does redeem himself at the end. Good book.
This is a fantastic BDSM read about loyal, strong-willed Ellie, and crime boss Ash. Ellie offers herself to Ash in exchange for her father’s life, so she is there by her own choice. What she does, however, is entirely up to the beast, Ash. Ash is attentive and observant, and sees Ellie’s desires. She is an open book to him. Curious Ellie doesn’t know when to stop looking and asking, and this ends badly for her. A bit of unexpected suspense at the end. I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters (I hope Peter gets a story!), the pacing and flow. Could not put this one down!
I received an arc of this book and have voluntarily reviewed it.