Lorraine Heath ends her bestselling Sins for All Seasons series with the hero readers have been waiting for!She wants lessons in seduction
Althea Stanwick was a perfect lady destined to marry a wealthy lord, until betrayal left her family penniless. Though she’s lost friends, fortune, and respectability, Althea has gained a scandalous plan. If she can learn to seduce, she can obtain power over … learn to seduce, she can obtain power over men and return to Society on her terms. She even has the perfect teacher in mind, a man whose sense of honor and dark good looks belie his nickname: Beast.
But desire like this can’t be taught
Benedict Trewlove may not know his parentage but he knows where he belongs—on the dark side of London, offering protection wherever it’s needed. Yet no woman has ever made such an outrageous request as this mysterious beauty. Althea is out of place amongst vice and sin, even if she offers a wicked temptation he can’t resist. But as the truth of his origin emerges at last, it will take a fierce, wild love to overcome their pasts.
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Beast a.k.a. Benedict is the only Threwlove not to have found love and a happily ever after. Enter Althea Stanwick who works as barmaid at the Mermaid and Unicorn. Instantly he’s intrigued by her and guesses she’s a former lady and wants her to teach the women of the brothel he owns etiquette so they can have a better future, but what he didn’t expect that in return Althea wants Ben to teach her the art of seduction.
On that note I’ll say that Ben and Althea took my heart and ran with it. I loved them together so much that I can’t even explain. They just fit together as two puzzle pieces. The chemistry between the both of them was off the charts hot.
Another thing I just loved were the small appearances of the other Threwloves and their spouses from the previous books in the series. It’s a small thing but seeing them again and having a glimpse into their current lives even though this isn’t their book made it just that much better. Also, it just made me so happy to see how Ben’s family accepted Althea right away without question. It warmed my heart so much.
In such a short time I’ve come to love this series so damn much. I’m quite sad this was the last book about the Trewloves in particular but I’m glad the author isn’t completely leaving them behind. And as for this book, I loved it so much. Beast’s story was everything I had hoped it would be.
It’s always a sure bet that a Lorraine Heath book is gonna be good.
Beauty Tempts the Beast wasn’t merely good, it was outstanding.
Going with theme should a child be condemned for a parent’s sin, Heath gives us Althea Stanwick, the daughter of a Duke accused of treason. Society has shunned her and her brothers for her father’s deed. Forced to make their way in the world without anything of left of their lives, including money, Althea gets a job in a tavern.
Into that tavern walks Benedict “beast” Truelove, a man who knows the sting of society’s shun as well since he is a bastard. Beast fell hard for this beauty who doesn’t belong in a tavern or anywhere near Whitechapel. The story that unfolds between them is one only a storyteller of Heath’s artistic caliber could write.
I fell in love with Beast after the first time we meet him and only continued to fall deeper in love with him, as did Althea, as the story progressed.
When a secret identity is revealed and the love story between these two seems lost, Heath pulls out all the stops to insure it doesn’t
I want to thank Netgalley for finally allowing me a sneak peek at a Lorriane Heath book. I’ve been trying for some time to be awarded a copy because she truly is a one-click author for me, but being allowed to read and arc and write a review for her work is an honor.
Wish I could this book more than 5 stars!!!!
Benedict/Ben “Beast” Trewlove has always been the most mysterious of the Trewlove siblings, throughout the series we have had glimpses of him and heard things, but we never really got to know him. For me, questions began to pile up, why does he live in a brothel? Why do they call him Beast? What does he do? Well, the wait is over and we will finally learn the answers to all these questions and more!
Miss Althea Stanwick’s life has taken a drastic turn for the worse, she was Lady Althea Stanwick the only daughter of the Duke of Wolfford until he plotted to assassinate the Queen and was charged with treason and hanged for his crimes. His family was stripped of their titles, properties and society turned their backs on them. If this was not bad enough Althea’s betrothed the Earl of Chadbourne publicly shames her by turning his back on her, as does everyone else, the embarrassment is too much for her mother, who rapidly declines and passes away. With no options and no allies, the Stanwick siblings move to Whitechapel and Althea gets a job at Gillie’s pub. It is there that she meets Beast.
Beast knows she doesn’t belong in Whitechapel and is intrigued by her. He follows her when she leaves and sees her meet a man, assumes she is safe and goes home. Home for him is a brothel, he never planned to own a brothel and would dearly love to get rid of it, but his guilt from the past and his protective nature will not allow him to close the doors and leave the “girls” to the streets. He escapes to his study and tries to put Althea out of his mind and work on his newest murder mystery novel – his first book recently published and he is eager to write the next one. But tonight, the words won’t come and he begins to wonder if Althea could be the answer to his brothel dilemma – maybe he could hire her to teach the girls to be more refined and find jobs for them. He returns to Gillie’s and tries to offer her the position – she grossly misunderstands and refuses to even hear what he has to say.
Althea is shocked, she thinks he was asking her to be his mistress. That night her brother Griffith is late to walk her home and when he does show up, he is secretive. She knows her older brother Marcus has gone underground to try and find the other men who plotted with their and hopefully restore their family honor, she also knows that Griffith wants to go with him, but has been left to watch over her. It isn’t until she is attacked on her way home another night and saved be Beast that she begins to reconsider her options. She decides that she will become a courtesan and who better to teach her than a man who owns a brothel? She visits him and learns what he really wanted to hire her for – she agrees, but wants him to teach her how to become a seductress. They come to an agreement and Althea moves into the brothel – much to her brother’s dismay. She explains what she is doing and that by living there, Griffith is free to join Marcus and doesn’t have to worry about her.
Beast and Althea become close, she is delighted to learn that he is an author and is fascinated by his life and impressed with all he has accomplished. Slowly they fall in love and she knows that she will never be able to be a courtesan and tells Beast that she has fallen in love with him. He loves her too, he proposes and she accepts, but almost immediately their dream of HEA is shattered when the truth of Beast’s birth comes knocking on the door.
I just loved this book so much, as always, the writing is great, the book flows and holds the reader in thrall until the very last word. But this book felt even more poignant than the previous books, all of the siblings have had hurdles to clear before their happy endings, but Beast, whose heart is the biggest, seemed to have a mountain to conquer to win his love. This book was filled with emotion, steamy love scenes, cameos from the other Trewloves, a few laughs, shocking revelations, a bit of revenge, a hero with a huge heart, a lovely declaration scene and an absolutely wonderful epilogue make this book my favorite in the series. This is the last book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. And while it is the last in this series, it gives us a peek at a new series featuring Althea’s brothers!! I loved this book and most enthusiastically recommend this title to fellow historical romance lovers!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me by the publisher.*
It is poignant and bittersweet to bid farewell to the Trewlove clan in this, the final book in the series. This world needs more Ettie Trewloves in it. She took in six children in the stews of London – cast-off children, by-blows of the aristocrats – and she raised those children as her own. She loved them, taught them love and respect, and saw that they were educated, even though that meant teaching themselves. I’ve loved each of Ettie’s children – Mick, Gillie, Finn, Aiden, Fancy, and now Beast (Ben). I have been anxiously awaiting Beast’s story because he’s always like a shadow – secretive and in the background of each story – and he has intrigued me. All I can say is that I think it is the best story of the series. Not only is the story steamy and romantic with a hero who is one of the most generous and honorable men you’ll ever meet, but the Epilogue is absolutely to die for. It may be one of the best Epilogues I’ve ever read.
Benedict Trewlove began protecting people when he was just a young lad. He was big and gangly at the time, but he still had the nickname of Beast. That caring and protectiveness are how he came to be the owner of a brothel. He hates owning the brothel. He assures the ladies are protected. He takes no money from the ladies. He also does not partake of the ladies themselves. He has found other occupations for most of the ladies, but he still has a few for whom finding other employment has been more difficult. If he could just do something for them, he could close the place down. What he needs is someone to teach them proper ways of doing things so they can become seamstresses or whatever else they’d like to be.
Just the person he needed dropped right into his lap when he went to his sister’s pub for a drink. She was riveting and she definitely didn’t belong in this place. He was sure she had Mayfair written all over her – but she very firmly rebuffed his questions. That, of course, only piqued his interest more. When he told her that he had a proposition for her, she went ballistic and made assumptions that weren’t true, but he could see where she might leap to that conclusion since she didn’t know him.
Lady Althea Stanwick, daughter of a duke, once the darling of the ton, had her world turned upside down. Everything was stripped from her and her brothers when her father was caught and hanged for treason. They were turned out of their home with little more than the clothes on their backs. She was now just plain Miss Althea Stanwick and she and her younger brother, Griffin were living in a cold, unfurnished shack in Whitechapel. Nobody would hire her as a governess or companion, so she’d tried other jobs – like a seamstress, but she was soon dismissed because her stitching just wasn’t fine enough for quality clothing. Now, she’s working at the Mermaid and Unicorn serving drinks to customers. She tries to keep her head down in order to escape being noticed by the men, but that doesn’t always work. She’ll just have to do her best because she cannot afford to lose her position.
After overhearing a conversation between her brothers, Althea makes a life-changing decision. She will take the Beast up on his proposition and become his mistress. OH! MY! However, when she tells him she’ll be his mistress – he tells her that wasn’t his proposition. Sharp and quick thinker that she is, she makes an alternate proposal.
I absolutely loved how resolute Beast was – how protective. Althea was determined to get some ‘lessons’ for herself and Beast was determined not to give them. I loved watching them fight their attraction. When Beast loves, it is totally, deeply, and forever. He is a wonderfully sigh-worthy hero.
I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did. Just be prepared – you’ll run the gamut of emotions right along with Beast and Althea. Joy, heartbreak, anger, shock, triumph, revenge – you’ll experience it all. Then, you’ll get to the Epilogue and OMGoodness. It is wonderful and perfectly wraps up the series.
BTW – although we’ve sadly said farewell to the Trewloves, there is a two-book series (duology?) coming and it will feature Althea’s two brothers who are trying to redeem the family name by identifying the co-conspirators in their father’s treachery. Maybe we’ll get some cameo appearances by a Trewlove or two in those.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Beauty Tempts the Beast is the sixth and final book in Lorraine Heath’s Sins for All Seasons series. I read the last book (first of the series that I read) and loved it. I figured this one could not possibly be better than that phenomenal book. I was totally wrong. I fell head over heels in love with Beast and Thea and did not want this book to end. I spent the last 25 percent of it bawling my eyes out. Yes, I am odd – to me that is the sign of a wonderful story; it shows how invested I become in the characters. Don’t skip this if you haven’t read the previous installments, as this stands alone perfectly well.
Althea Stanwick was a lady and the daughter of a duke. The world was her oyster…until a scandal erupts and she loses all she holds dear. She and her brothers are stripped of everything, and the lady is now a barmaid at the Mermaid and Unicorn. Here she meets huge and handsome Benedict Trewlove, who’s also known as Beast. Beast is intrigued by this woman who so obviously doesn’t belong here as a barmaid. He has a proposition for her: she will teach the women at the brothel he owns refinement and help them to prepare for a life and occupation outside of the brothel. Keep in mind our Beast is not a pimp; he looks out for these women and protects them from all harm. Thea agrees on one condition… Beast will teach her seduction so she can become a courtesan and re-enter society on her own terms. They strike a bargain, and Thea moves into the brothel; however, things don’t go as planned, as they become more and more drawn to one another. When Beast discovers who he truly is, will he and Thea be torn apart?
OK, Beast is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. ~SIGH~ He’s large, strong and handsome. He has a heart of gold and protects those who need help. When he falls he falls hard. He may be called Beast but he’s truly beautiful inside. And he’s a writer. I love that books was a central theme in this book and the previous installment. Thea is the perfect heroine for Beast. Though her world was turned upside down, she soldiered on and did all she could to help herself and her brothers. She planned to take on the world on her own terms. Though I think her idea of becoming a seductress to re-enter society was a bit wonky, it worked here. Beauty and her Beast were perfect for each other, evidenced in so many ways…including the many steamy bits. REALLY steamy bits. Ice water alert! I loved seeing more of the Trewlove clan and the epilogue was simply lovely. I’m very excited to discover that Thea’s brothers, who made a brief appearance here, will have their own duology. Lorraine Heath shows us here how romance novels are properly done.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I don’t quite have the words to describe how much I loved this book. Beast is my perfect hero. Strong but sensitive, kind, compassionate, intellectual. Alpha…but with a heart of gold. Oh man I loved him. Loved the heroine too, strong but sweet and his perfect match. And the steam. Ms. Heath burns up the pages with this one and I loved every stinking minute, because you could just feel the connection between these two. And she made me cry more than a few times.
Ms. Heath saved the best for last with this one. Such a perfect end to this wonderful series. Highly recommended.
This book was everything that I was looking for. It was such a beautiful story and I loved experiencing it.
Lorraine Heath is a true master of her craft. Every time I read one of her novels I go through a roller coaster of emotions. She is able to create unique and beautiful stories in a rich historical world.
Both our hero and heroine are strong and independent people. They are drawn to each other as soon as they meet. They never judge each other. They are constantly supportive of each other. They are always putting the other person before themselves. Watching their love story enfold was so delightful. I love that Lorraine is able to craft stories that are so emotionally infused that my heart can break as well as feel so full of love all with in the pages of her novels.
I highly recommend this book. I fell in love with both our main characters and was charmed by the various supporting character (who all felt like fully realized people).
I enjoyed the Beast’s story. I’m looking forward to Griffin and Marcus’ story.
Love everything she writes!
Great read
This is a high-stakes story about a duke’s daughter trying to survive after her family’s fall from grace. Althea wants Ben to instruct her in the art of seduction so she can leave the terrifying world of Whitechapel and return to Mayfair—even if it’s as a courtesan. Ben wants her to teach the women under his protection how to be more polished so they can enter into more honorable employment. When he learns the truth about his origins, can their burgeoning love survive?
The tense plot coupled with expertly drawn characters makes for a compelling read. The heroine and hero are likable and relatable. The emotions between them are intense. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, but I’m looking forward to going back and reading them all.
Thanks, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I love a good Lorraine Heath historical romance and this did not disappoint. It was what I needed to read when I read it. I can’t always say why that is, but here I’ll venture a guess: it’s been a crap year (2020) and the story starts out with Thea having a crap year. Come along for the ride, kids. We’re all getting an HEA. (I hope.)
I haven’t read the other books in the series, but that wasn’t a problem for jumping into this story, and there’s a good chance I’ll go back and read the rest.
Full of sensual heat, plot twists, and interesting characters. Also, it was low angst with high stakes. (Ms. Heath is that good!) And, I feel it is really important to point out, both Benedict and Thea talked through everything. As in, no misunderstandings to create drama, as in FULL CONSENT for any act of intimacy—which only enhanced it, showing how much they cared about each other.
Now, I’m wondering what’s up with Althea’s brothers. Very mysterious. They’ll start the next series.
Benedict Trewlove, aka Beast, is the last of Ettie Trewlove’s children to remain unwed. He’s also the only one who doesn’t know who his real parents are/were. Althea Stanwick has been shunned by society due to her father (a duke) being caught in a plot to kill the queen; he’s been hung, her mother has died, and her two brothers are off trying to redeem their family through probably illegal means. She meets Beast at a pub where she’s working, and the sparks fly. He proposes a legitimate work option for her to get her out of the pub, where she’s is totally out of her league, and she comes back with a counter proposal — teach her what a man likes so she can become a courtesan and get back at society.
This is the final book in the Sins for All Season series, and is a great conclusion. It was great seeing all Ben’s ‘siblings’ and meeting Beast’s birth parents. Watching him as a protector was yummy!. Now there’s another series coming, about Althea’s brothers, and it should be just as much fun as the rest..
Starring Miss Althea “Thea” Stanwick and Mr Benedict “Beast” Trewlove.
Trope(s): Beauty and the Beast re-telling… Anti-Hero.
“When she laughs, my world is brighter. When she smiles, it is more colorful.” ~Beast
Omigosh I am bawling… this book was beyond beautiful!! I am so in love with Althea and Benedict. I was so giddy with all the wonderful feely-feels for these two. This is going down as one of my favorite versions of Beauty and the Beast… they even got a library scene. I know, right?!
Such strong hero and heroine. Althea and Benedict truly complimented each other. She was polished, he’s a little rough around the edges. Together they are the perfect blend. Althea and Benedict are one of my favorite book couples of 2020. I could not get enough of these two!!
This is book #6 in the Sins for All Seasons Series. I didn’t read the previous books, but now I’m going to run to Amazon and 1-clicking all of them!! I have no doubt that the previous stories will be as amazing!!
Lorraine Heath is one of my all time fave authors. She is an emotionally charge writer and her stories are wonderful masterpieces for the soul. I love her!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.
My star rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were freaken amazeballs. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will definitely be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!
Oh my, what a wonderfully written regency romance by Lorraine Heath. It had me in tears at the end, I hate it when that happens ;).
Benedict (Beast) and Thea were such great characters I absolutely loved their journey of love, from their first meeting I knew it would be special.
Beauty Tempts the Beast: A Sins for All Season Novel
Sins for All Seasons Series #6
Lorraine Heath
https://www.facebook.com/LorraineHeathBooks/
Release date 09/27/2020
Publisher Avon
Lorraine Heath ends her bestselling Sins for All Seasons series with the hero readers have been waiting for!
She wants lessons in seduction
Althea Stanwick was a perfect lady destined to marry a wealthy lord, until betrayal left her family penniless. Though she’s lost friends, fortune, and respectability, Althea has gained a scandalous plan. If she can learn to seduce, she can obtain power over men and return to Society on her terms. She even has the perfect teacher in mind, a man whose sense of honor and dark good looks belie his nickname: Beast.
But desire like this can’t be taught
Benedict Trewlove may not know his parentage but he knows where he belongs—on the dark side of London, offering protection wherever it’s needed. Yet no woman has ever made such an outrageous request as this mysterious beauty. Althea is out of place amongst vice and sin, even if she offers a wicked temptation he can’t resist. But as the truth of his origin emerges at last, it will take a fierce, wild love to overcome their pasts.
Will she get hold in time of what counts most …
I confess I do not expect to read this book so soon, I have such a long list of books to read prior their release, I read very few outside this list, why I was surprised when I received this book a month after it release.
I came late in this series, with the two previous books Aiden and Fancy’s stories. Now it is time for Beast, the enigmatic one.
Beast or Ben, a philanthropist at heart, made himself a defender of the weak so much he began housing prostitutes for their protection, and soon he became the unwilling owner of a brothel.
He is no pimp, never taking profit from those under his protection. More, he helps them finding a new path.
I loved the idea of the frock made for each of his girls to be worn when leaving their drudgery of working on their back in the past.
Like out on a new skin for a new life.
Althea learned the hard way nothing is assured in life. She went from the statut of a duke’s daughter to a nobody with nothing in the latter of a night. But more than her rank and wealth, she was stripped of her persona as when everyone turned their back to her, she forfeited her identity and inner self.
When Beast built himself, Althea had to rebuild herself.
When she mistook his proposal, it gives her the idea of forging a new path for herself, one where she believes she will hold all the power.
Yet slowly, with patience and listening, Ben offers her back her dignity, proving her she can be more and have more if she let love embrace her instead of going for facsimile.
Ben is a fixer, why maybe he was drawn to Althea in first instance, but he also has a mission and if helping his girls might rescue Althea, he will happily follow this path.
Their romance is no whirlwind, it is a game of constancy and forbearance. He seduces her with his words when his actions lead to regain her self-esteem.
And the epilogue, oh my!
Just beautiful, I had tears in my eyes while saying goodbye to this group of unconventional siblings.
Yet it is just a short farewell as the next series will probably offer glimpse of them.
A big fat 5 stars
I was granted a free copy by the publisher Avon, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/736833700239137/?d=n
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1mv
Althea Stanwick, as the daughter of a duke, had every privilege and was engaged to an earl. Her world fell apart when her father was found to be a traitor and executed, leaving Althea and her two brothers homeless, penniless, and outcasts from society. Althea now works as a server in a tavern, living in a rundown set of rooms with one brother, who now has become a dockworker. Her oldest brother, the former heir, is now undercover, trying to find out who his late father’s accomplices are. Since her former fiancé jilted her, Althea begins to think that she’ll become a courtesan. If she’s not respectable enough to marry, at least she’ll be provided for on her own terms.
Benedict Trewlove is known as Beast because of his large size and a very unique physical imperfection. Ben was left with Lottie Trewlove shortly after his birth by his mother, who promised to return for him soon. As Ben is now thirty-three, that never happened. Ben has never known about his birth family, but grew up with plenty of love from his adopted mother and siblings. Ben has always been protective of women, and somehow came to be responsible for a brothel he never wanted. His goal has been to have the women trained for respectable careers, and now there are just six ladies left for him to place. When Ben sees Thea at the tavern, he immediately can tell that she’s “quality” and doesn’t belong working as a barmaid. He offers her a position of teaching his remaining women how to behave more like proper ladies, at a salary too good for Thea to resist. However, she has her own request – she wants Ben to teach her about seduction, so that she’s prepared for her own future career.
Ben is reluctant because he believes that Thea can still make a good match. However, he didn’t see her fiancé give her the cut direct, or the snubs from all her former friends. Ben finally agrees, but won’t take the final step of taking her innocence, believing that Thea may still change her mind. As you can imagine, the more Thea observes the kind of man Ben is, the more infatuated she becomes. Ben has already been intrigued with Thea from the first time he saw her. Their seductive encounters soon become much more, and this couple falls in love. Ben proposes, and Thea joyfully accepts. Happy ever after? Not so fast! Ben’s about to learn of his birth family, and the story is shocking, so much so, that Thea says she can no longer marry Ben.
Ben is truly like a knight, protecting the defenseless, and trying to make life better for those he cares for. He’s so intelligent and strong and loving, yet he’s crushed when he and Thea part. While I didn’t applaud Thea’s original choice for her future, I did appreciate that she picked herself up and forged ahead. She felt that leaving Ben was in his own best interest, though her heart was breaking, as well. Thank goodness that it turns out there is a way for them to rescue each other. BEAUTY TEMPTS THE BEAST is another emotional story from Lorraine Heath, something she does so well. Ben and Thea’s passionate journey is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for this couple to find a way to build a future together. A beautifully written epilogue, which goes far into the future, wraps up this series absolutely perfectly.
BEAUTY TEMPTS THE BEAST by Lorrain Heath is the sixth and final book of A Sin For All Season series. She wants lessons in seduction. Althea Stanwick was a perfect lady destined to marry a wealthy lord, until betrayal left her family penniless. Though she’s lost friends, fortune, and respectability, Althea has gained a scandalous plan. Benedict Trewlove may not know his parentage, but he knows where he belongs—on the dark side of London, offering protection wherever it’s needed. Yet no woman has ever made such an outrageous request as this mysterious beauty. Beast and Thea are complex characters, and their “business arrangement” draws them closer, igniting a heartfelt sensual desire. Lorrain Heath’s stories are filled with humor, heart, and sensuality. BEAUTY TEMPTS THE BEAST is a well-written, emotional plot with a cast of interesting secondary characters and the Trewlove family dynamic.
At 50% I thought I was going to give this 4 stars, but when I reached 80% I knew Beast and his Beauty deserve nothing else but the full five stars. I cried non-stop at the way they’re breaking each other’s hearts because of society even as I know there’s going to be a grand event that will bring them back together in the end.
Lorraine Heath tied up the Sins for All Seasons series so wonderfully with this reverse-Cinderella tale. So, so good.
This was the last book in a 6 book series by this author. I enjoyed all 6, but this one is undoubtedly my favorite. The hero is strong, but gentle. He understands the need for people to have their own power, even when they don’t always understand it themselves. The heroine grows as she learns how to deal with the “new normal” of her life. One of the best things about this book was the epilogue, which gives us a brief glimpse into the HEA for all 6 couples from the series – along with Ettie Trewlove, the loving woman that created this wonderful family.