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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I loved Beast: The Beginning (Hate Story, #1). From the minute I started reading This I was lost in another world, one of blood, hate and organised crime.
Where being bad was good and innocence is soon corrupted and lost forever.
So beast is about Frankie Notte and Anteros Drago a boss in the Pavoni family.
Frankie trades herself for her Papas life accompanying the beast to a fate unknown.
The Beast himself has every intention of selling Frankie to the Institute to be sold to the highest bidder.
But sometimes the best-laid plans can go awry, as is what happens here, leaving the beast with a slave that he’s not quite sure what to do with.
Now, this was described as a dark read, and there is plenty of evidence of that darkness scattered throughout Beast, but behind closed doors, the Beast becomes increasingly fascinated with his new toy and there is at times a surprising gentleness to some of his interactions with Frankie.
He continues to try and keep up a front in front of his wolves as they start to lose confidence in their leader, questioning his actions towards an inconsequential Slave.
There is also a lot of secrets and intrigue running beneath the surface and rumours running amok concerning the Pavoni Princess, even Beast himself starts to listen and doubt what is real.
So dissecting our two main honchos here.
Anteros Drago/ Beast first, he’s Ruthless, cruel, seemingly without mercy, he wants to break Frankie reducing her to nothing, he even initially tells her she is nothing.
His Black-heart is dark to the core, he lives for the job having spent years planning, with his wolves there rise to the top of the family from mere foot soldiers.
He appears to have no weaknesses. that is until Frankie slowly starts to thaw his ice-cold heart, not that you would major notice this as he’s still a complete bastard to Frankie subjecting her to awful situations to teach her her place and generally playing mind games, belittling her at every turn while fighting his growing affections and deceiving himself regarding his feelings towards her.
Now Frankie herself, she is multi-faceted in regards to what she portrays outwardly.
Shes, not a worldly girl having been ill much of her teenage years, but From day one despite her apprehension, Frankie refuses to back down, sometimes even stupidly goading Beast, She grows so much in character throughout this story, seeming to get stronger with each new trial experienced, she also tries daily to fight her strange attraction towards the Beast that she swears she hates.
When we get the final satisfying reveal, setting us up for book two all players have been moved around into their new places almost like a chess match.
Or maybe even a new blood war.
You can see straight off that the next instalment is going to be very different in regards to changing tides.
So Really well done to the author I can’t wait to get stuck into Beauty: The End (Hate Story, #2).
This may have been my first Mary Catherine Gebhard book, but definitely won’t be my last.
It’s been quite a while since I indulged myself in a good Dark romance and though this was not as dark as some I have read I found this a great addition to its genre.
So Give this a go if you like a good anti-hero romance, happy reading.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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It’s not every day that a book shocks me like this one did. I have several thing that are like the holy grail when it comes to stories. It’s those things that I love when the are written into a story. They are: Beauty And The Beast themed story, Romeo & Juliet themed stories, mafia, dark romance, dark/broody/ass hole-ish male leads, romantic suspense. This book, this book that I didn’t know about till the other day when it popped up in my newsfeed…it HAD ALL OF THAT. I could have missed out on this amazing story that has consumed me for two days now.
“”My only love sprung from my only hate.” My breath hitched, my heartbeat stuttered, before I realized he was quoting the play.”
It’s full of suspense and so much stuff going on right in front of you. You know you’re trying to put together a puzzle that you don’t have all the pieces to. That ending scene. OMG! It gutted me and I broke for him, for her, for everything that was about to happen. I can’t wait till the next half is released and we get to see what happens next. Do NOT miss this book. I can’t recommend it enough and it’s going on my top books of the year for sure!
She gave herself to save her father’s life but she didn’t know she was loosing her own. Frankie didn’t know the Beast was better at the game. She was easily manipulated by many. Even those she thought were friends. A princess plan but she didn’t know death was at the end. She didn’t know a person would be standing in front of her declaring something that only confused her more. But what about Beast did he truly love her.
A fantastic read. I couldn’t put it down. Began reading it on a flight and found myself walking/reading while walking out of the airport and never putting it down. The characters are full of spunk and surprises.
This book was intense. It’s not my norm… but I could put it down. I love the second book as well. This story is so dark and crazy but it draws you in. You fall for the characters and truly never know what to expect. Love love loved it!!!
Frankie’s father owns too much money to the wrong people and now he can’t save himself. When Beast comes for payment Frankie is there, can she do anything to save her father? Should she even try?
OMG. This is not your normal dark Mafia romance, not at all. I kept waiting for Frankie and the Beast to fall in love and the Beast change, but NOPE! I got something totally different and unexpected. I’m in the process of reading Beauty right now, the last book for the series.
I highly recommend this book! This book was written like no other book I’ve come across yet. You will not regret it.
It Grabbed My attention and focus so strong I could not put it down. A word of advice when you get your copy. Grab a snack, a comfy seat, kick back and relax. You will not be moving until you finish this bad boy here. Remarkable job. Thanks for sharing.
This is my first book by Mary Catherine Gebhard and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story starts off quickly with Frankie putting herself on the chopping block to save her dad. The Beast takes her up on her offer and takes her in as his slave. The Beast brings out a side of Frankie she didn’t know existed and is somewhat afraid of. Frankie had a somewhat sheltered life, so being with the Beast sort of opens her eyes to who she truly is. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and not all questions are answered. It’s hard to know at times who to trust. There is a huge build up of the sexual chemistry between the Beast and Frankie and I found myself internally screaming at the book “just do it already!” The initial sex scene we have between the two of them was not quite enough for me and I wanted more! I will say that I saw some reviews mentioning that the Beast “raped” Frankie, but I disagree. This is dubious consent in its finest. I did immediately pick up book 2, Beauty, as this one does in a cliffhanger. I had to know what happened! I don’t read a lot of mafia books but this one I do recommend for mafia and dark romance lovers.
I have been like a metronome, swinging one way then the other, love and hate. Frankie although naive is still more then a match for the Beast who took her in place of her father’s debts, but now secrets and betrayal are all around, trust nobody, especially the Beast. Wow, just wow.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Beast is a modern day take on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. It features Antero (the Beast), a mafia boss who is a murderer and involved in the female slave trafficking (with the Institute), and Francesca (Frankie), who sells herself to the Beast in order to save her father’s life. Antero accepts her offer instead of selling her to the Institute he takes her virginity the first night she is at his home. Frankie tolerates Antero’s brutality with grace. Eventually, Frankie becomes an issue between Antero’s men and business practices. I recommend this dark twisted mafia book which is hate to love novel with strong emotions, unexpected twists, and steamy chemistry. Beware, this book ends in a cliffhanger which is continued into the second book of the series entitled Beauty: A Hate Story, The End.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first Mary Catherine Gebhard read also my first mafia read in a long time. The story of the Beast and his slave is definitely not a sweet fairy tale romance read. It’s story filled with angst, desire, darkness, some insane secrets, and some interestingly mysterious characters. I am doing a double review together because I couldn’t put the book down after being left on a crazy cliff hanger after finishing Beast I jumped right into Beauty not gonna lie.
Frankie ready to give up herself to save her Papa’s life from harm after a debt owed little does she know just what kind of deal she has made until she’s taken by the beast to stay like a caged slave in his penthouse. Beast who was once a orphan that got an opportunity to become rich and feared has worked his way up the food chain along with his trusty wolves by doing a lot of dirty work of course. Beast never thought anything was more important then business no one could tame someone like him. Frankie changes thanks to the Beast she becomes broken. She didn’t know that he would be the one to put her back together again. Beast who soon becomes known to her as Anteros has only one thing in mind and that’s Frankie,everything else seems to slip and it begins to show especially to the wolves. While all this is going on there is a blood war happening so Anteros has to act quickly. Can The Beast still be a ruthless leader and take out the head mafia family? The darkness rises in Frankie and all the secrets about her birth and true family comes to light. What will Frankie choose to be the Princess or just a slave to the Beast?
The character development was amazing in the story, I really loved how there was a softness to them both but also a darkness that they were able to bring out in each other. A heart-stopping read and full of detail. This duet is a must read for those who love a good mafia romance story full of wickedness and death of course.
First off, let me say that I don’t read the Dark Romance genre often, but when I do, I either tend to DNF it or have a hard time putting it down, depending on the storyline and triggers. I’m going with the later when it comes to the first book to Mary Catherine Gehard’s Hate Story Duet. I had a hard time putting down this book, even though there were parts in the story that were hard to read due to the triggers in it. I felt for the female protagonist in the story, but she fought back, which is why I couldn’t put the book down. There was also the fact that this book was told in dual POV. Readers will get inside of the heroine and hero’s head, which is a must in a dark romance like this one.
I was intrigued to read BEAST: The Beginning by Mary Catherine Gebhard because it’s a Mafia Romance that is a dark and gritty Beauty and the Beast retelling. I’m all for something different, and this book provided me a dark, twisted world of the Italian Mafia and how they are into organized crime.
The beginning of this book immediately puts you into the deep end of how the Mafia works when the heroine chooses to go with the Beast (Real name Anteros Drago), instead of having the Beast kill her father. The Beast ends up taking Frankie (Francesca) as his slave, but it’s supposed to be temporary until he sells her to the Insitute. Unfortunately, the Beast is obsessed with Frankie immediately and doesn’t know why. Frankie is ruining the Beast. He’s becoming soft, and his Wolves are starting to notice it right away. He has had years to get to where he is in the Mafia, and everything is falling apart because he kept the girl for himself. Anteros tries everything to break Frankie when he has her, but she ends up fighting back. This is when Beast starts to realize that something is different about her. She may end up having darkness in her too. Frankie ends up making unlikely friends that are either there for her or want to use her for something else.
A rumor is flying around that the Pavoni Princess is alive and stuff is about to hit the fan in this book if it’s true. I was on edge, trying to figure out if the Beast was eventually going to sell or end Frankie in this book. There were moments he was dark in this book that I had a hard time liking his character. I fought for Frankie, though. I wanted her to fight back, and she often did even though her body kept betraying her when it came to Beast.
The kicker is with that this book left me hanging at the end, and now I need to make time to read BEAUTY: The End. I know it’s going to get even better in the end. There were a couple of times that I almost stopped myself from reading this book due to specific triggers, but I kept going.
This is the first book I’ve read by Mary Catherine Gebhard, and I can’t wait to read more from the author. I’ve only read a couple of Dark Romance books, but Mary had me enjoying this dark, gritty Mafia Romance story.
Story Rating: 4 stars
Steaminess Rating: 4 stars
Standalone or part of series: Part of Duet and highly recommend reading in order.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Dark; Gritty; Organized Crime; Mafia Romance; Abuse; Rape; Attempted Rape; BDSM; Taboo; Sex Trafficking; Drugs
Hero: Mafia Boss; Alpha; Criminal; Bad Boy; Cruel
Heroine: Kickbutt (Fights Back); Captive; Vulnerable; Strong
4 Beastly Stars
This is my first book by Mary, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. This was a twistedly delicious take on a classic fairy tale. I was a little worried when starting this because I didn’t think I’d be a fan of this type of book. I tend to like my fairy tales just as they were in my childhood. But after reading this I’ve most definitely garnered a different opinion on that. This book was the perfect balance of dark and decadent with wisps of the fairy tale I’ve loved since infancy.
“Frankie,”he said pointedly. He rolled my name over his tongue as if he were licking it.”
Beast is utterly delicious. He is not the hero in stories that is going to make you swoon while getting the heroine to fall in love with him with his sweet words and loving actions. He is dark, mean, twisted and the antithesis of the usual “book boyfriend” type. Beast is very deeply layered you must work a little harder at getting to his heart, but it is most assuredly there. He is the epitome of rough around the edges, but as the story progresses you see him start to slowly change. His broken jagged pieces are slowly softening the longer he is around Frankie. His character is deeply depraved and at times incredibly harsh, which makes the parts in the story where he softens towards Frankie that much more rewarding.
“She had a soul of steel, something he had yet only encountered among fighters, those grown up swaddled in blood instead of blankets.”
Frankie, damn this girl has an iron will that seems as if it can’t be broken. She’s strong and capable with an unflappable self-control. She’s been through a lot in her short life, so she has built walls surrounding herself to keep emotions as bay. She doesn’t stand by and let Beast roll over her. She has a fighter’s will and that’s what she does fight. Even thrown into an impossible position she works not to let it destroy her. And as Beast slowly breaks down her barriers, she comes to embrace the darkness in her that matches the darkness in Beast. Once she does this it starts to change her and mold her into a fiercer and more determine version of herself. I can’t wait to see how she’s changed in the conclusion of their story.
“It’s not fair that the man who ruined me is the only one to ever know me.”
If you’re looking for a sweet romantic take on Beauty and the Beast this is not it. But if you want something with an entirely knew feel to the story that brings out more of the darkness than don’t look any further this is it. I loved the depth’s that this story delved into and the chances that Mary took when bringing this story to life. This is a highly addictive dark read that will have your emotions running rampant as you navigate through this story. I highly recommend this book.
4.5 stars
This book, though only part one of the duet, was a great retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And as someone who hates cliffhangers, I’m not even mad about this one. I feel like this portion of the book was complete enough for it to end where it was. It wasn’t like most duets or series’ that I read lately where it just ends to make you buy the next book. This book was over 500 pages so first of all, I’m glad it was split, and second, like I said, it wrapped up what was happening enough that it was a good place to stop.
The only reason that I’m knocking off a half star is because there are topics that I don’t like to read about, and in fact would normally avoid at all costs. But that is on me, not the book, so it gets the round up to 5 stars. If you love dark reads and/or retellings, I highly recommend this one.
Wow. This is my first Mary Catherine Gebhard book and all I can say is WOW! This book is so much more than just a romance novel.This book is about two people fighting their way to each other (maybe) with so many people against them. Beast is a very complicated man that has fought his way to the top and wants to keep it that way. But now that he has Frankie he doesn’t know where to go now. Frankie has no idea what she has gotten into when she takes her fathers place for his debt. But she finds it is not what she thought. I loved this book and could not put it down!
I confess that this book got me out of my comfort zone. This is definitely not a common or trivial love story. It may have the ingredients of a cliché, but it is far from being one. Beast is the first book of a duology and tells the facts that trigger the involvement between Francesca Valeria Notte aka Frankie and Anteros Ferragamo aka Beast.
Francesca is a typical suburban girl, raised alone by a father who is far from exemplary, having lost her mother at the age of three. She has no friends, and she spent her childhood struggling against an illness that prevented her from living a normal life.
The nickname of Anteros says it all. He is a member of the Italian mafia and earns his nickname for being a beast without mercy. And we all know what to expect from someone named this way. Violence, coldness and cruelty is all that exists on his outside.
Their paths intersect due to a debt that Frankie’s father adquires and can not pay away. When Beast come to Notte´s home to charge his debts, informing him that if he does not pay in cash he will pay with his life, Frankie offers in his father’s place to save his life. It may even sound sort of Disney to your ears, but forget it. This is not a love story. At least not typical one.
The great revelations in this plot take place inside the characters. Some of them are outsourced in the acts and decisions they make and give us hints of what might happen in the future of this improbable couple.
They fight all the time for dominance and power. While they try to prove that they have dominion over themselves, they only demonstrate their power over one another, an almost magnetic attraction, unstoppable and infinite. This is the main point that holds the reader to the narrative, although the background of the plot, with its scenes of abuse, make the reading a bit uncomfortable.
The antithesis of Anteros life destroying and rebuilding because of Frankie’s presence is intoxicating to read. It becomes almost an addiction, since you can not see something healthy or normal in the narrative of these two. They are like a drug you want to quit but simply can not. It does not look right or good, but you can not let go.
Revelations about Frankie’s family, their origin and other events involving the Mafia and Anteros steer the narrative to an exciting end and with taste of want more. Yes, you will like or even sympathize or cheer for Anteros at the end of the narrative, you can bet.
Shocking: Frankie is a very troublesome heroine, her statement after losing her virginity in a not very loving way was pretty shocking to me. And it was only two words.
Shocking 2: The “gift” that Anteros “gives” to Frankie before leaving, stating that he will be “with her” all day long. Just a hint it vibrates and has remote control to be fired from a distance. And where was it put? Not good.
Striking:The scene in which Frankie reflects on the transformations that are taking place inside her, soon after contemplating her dress thrown in a corner of the room, crumpled and forgotten. I found it poetic, I confess.
To melt: Every time Anteros called Frankie de “Mio cuore”, my heart melted a little. I have to admit. He is totally wrong in so many ways. But it does melt your heart.
I do not know what to think: The funeral scene. Hilarious? Crazy? Too much weird? I can not define a feeling,I can not to choose an adjective that fits perfectly to describe it.
Shocking: The scene of Arlo’s death. Too much details, too much details.
This book is totally worth the read. Every page will have you enthralled and panting for more. Let’s not forget to mention the chemistry of these two. You can really feel the passion.
There was a lot of angst in this story. It was hot and steamy, and short. Great characters and interesting storyline.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve read several chapters of this and truly don’t like it. Frankly, it’s just not that good. I’ve read 50 Shades, and the Crossfire series, plus many more in this genre. I’ve enjoyed them all; “dark” stories don’t offend me. On the contrary, they’re often very good reads. But this story, so far at least, is dull and slow. The characters haven’t much depth, and I don’t feel the intrigue. Not sure I want to finish it; still, at some point I might pick it up to try again. And should I change my mind, I’ll revise this review.
Sorry, dear Author.