The modern remake of a classic tale that twists the fictional into possibility.When two lost souls are brought together in an unlikely circumstance, it’ll take more to scare this feisty beauty away from a domineering beast. A story of love, loss, and learning to accept when life gives you a second chance.Elena Salazar has taken care of her gambling-addicted brother since her parents’ death. When … gambling-addicted brother since her parents’ death. When he calls her late one night asking for help, she’s thrown into Tristan Mercier’s life and is at his mercy. Unable to pay her brother’s debt, a contract is signed: she will live and work for Tristan for six months while her brother is sent to rehab.
Tristan Mercier is scarred, both physically and emotionally. He lost his happily ever after five years earlier in a fire that nearly took his life. He’s broken and bitter, but with Elena’s arrival, things are changing, and the feelings he thought long buried begin to resurface.
Can this brute open his heart to give his belleza a chance?
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Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse
Stars:4
Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite Disney movie. This story is Jane Matisse’s spin on the tale old as time! Tristan is rough around the edges and uptight at times, but he is kind, generous, and .. Elena can be fiery, maternal, and protective. I felt these characters definitely had some positive growth.I feel that the character growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. They are not the same characters as they are from the beginning.
Wowzers! Yeah, I don’t know another way to describe my initial thoughts when I finished this novel. I had not had the pleasure of reading anything by Jane Matisse before, but I can tell you that it will not be my last. I loved every single part of this novel. From the gorgeous cover to the wonderful retelling of my favorite fairy tale in the pages between the covers. This was one of those reads that completely consumed me from beginning to end. I didn’t even think about it till I had finished but everything I did while reading this was done with my kindle in my hand because I couldn’t put this book down. The only thing I would change is picking it up on a day where I could have given it my undivided attention from beginning to end but there is always next time!
I though Matisse did a wonderful job relating the original character favorites into modern day characters. Elena Salazar’s life has been anything but easy. At twenty-six she has had more pain and struggles than the average older adult. Elena has lost her job and is already struggling with the how she will make ends meet, when her lowlife brother calls for her help in the middle of the night. He needs money for a gambling debt and has no one else to go to for help. This is the catalyst for Elena seeking out Tristan Mercier. Tristan is the man that her brother owes money to.
Tristan has his own dark and luminous past that has made him into the person that he is today. He is a dark and intimidating person from the outside looking in, but underneath it all there is something about him that sings to Elena. He feels it too about Elena and so he offers her a deal. IF she works for him for six months it will be equivalent to what her brother owes and would satisfy his debt. From there starts this journey full of love and self-discovery. I loved every moment spent with Elena and Tristan and I can’t wait to see what else Jane Matisse has in store for us. Hopefully, another modern day fairy tale?
Belleza and the Brute is the first book I have read by Jane Matisse, but it wont be the last. I love retelling of classic stories, so when I saw this, I knew it was something I wanted to read. I love the story and characters, and the perfect balance between drama and romance. Elena Salazar plays the roll of “Beauty” but her life is not all magical unicorns and rainbows. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her to take care of her brother. She did the best she could, but he became addicted to gambling and she spent her life bailing him out of bad situations. When she got a phone call from her brother in the middle of the night, she was pissed, and that one phone call changed her life. He owed money to Tristan Mercier, and it couldnt be paid. In return for his pardon, Elena agrees to work for and live with Tristan for 6 months, while her brother goes to rehab, being paid for by Tristan.
Tristan, the “Beast,” is a successful businessman, owning one of the most popular clubs in the city. He was ready to call the cops on Adam, (Elena’s brother) for being a punk kid who gambled money he didn’t have. That is until his sister comes to his rescue, and instantly twists up Tristan’s insides and life. He has sworn off love, after a tragic fire left him wounded and scarred, both inside and out. While he hired Elena, to simplify his work, and get his business paperwork in order, it seems her presence in his home causes disarray in his personal life. If only he can let go of his past, and forgive himself, he may once again, find happiness.
I wasn’t quite sure how much I would like this book, but I decided to give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it kept my attention and I read it in one day.
What would you be willing to do for family? For Elena that is the question she is faced with in the early hours of the morning. Her brother is looking at jail time and she wants to keep him out. He’s the only family she has left. In a desperate attempt to save her brother, Elena finds herself contracted to a wealthy, brooding business owner to work off her brother’s debt.
Tristan is a successful businessman, but he has shut down his heart due to a devastating loss several years before. He’s scarred in more ways than one, and he has chosen to punish himself for his part in the tragedy. When he brings Elena into his house to pay off the debt, he finds his heart beginning to soften. Internally conflicted, he is often gruff and withdrawn toward her. But the longer she is around, the harder it gets to lie to himself about how she affects him.
I enjoyed this re-imagining of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. The characters are easy to connect with, and the story elicits a variety of emotions as it progresses.
Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse
4 Stars
This is the first book I have read from this author and it won’t be the last. It is a modern version of the story of Beauty and the Beast. I’m hesitant to read remakes of classic stories because some authors don’t do justice to the original. I have to admit that Jane Matisse did an excellent job retelling this one.
Elena has taken care of her gambling addicted brother since their parents death. Finding him in a situation with dire consequences, she throws herself at the mercy of Tristan Mercier. Tristan is scarred physically and emotionally and has been a shell of a man for the last five years. Taking Elena up on her offer, he never realized the changes she would bring into his life. Ready or not, will he be able to handle everything? You need to read it to find out.
A great read about trying again. Elena’s brother Adam has always been in trouble . One night he goes too far and causes a lot of damage. Faced with an ultimatum of paying the fee or her brother being thrown in jail, Elena says she will pay the owner Mr Mercier if she can work to earn it off. When he offers her a secretarial position on the condition that Adam goes to rehab, she jumps at the chance but will her hard work pay off?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. A great retelling of a fairytale true to the original story but modern elements added in like the nightclub or the laptops and finances. Well developed characters like Elena standing up for herself whilst also caring for her brother or Mercier with his harsh personality with a softer side underneath. Great supporting cast with the sweet and caring Paola or the hilarious Keith.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel in the mansion with a sense of grandeur like the chandeliers and bathtubs and the bedroom full of small details to add to the elegance of it all which was beautifully done. I also adored the combination of different cultures with the rugs.i also loved the description of the library full of books and comfy chairs which was excellent and Elena’s passion for reading was a lovely touch. The smaller space of the study also worked beautifully to create tension between them while they were working. i also loved the use of language with the Spanish which was a lovely touch and gave them a sense of being a family. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.
Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse was a okay read that was for me, not so mucha hit or miss.. just okay.
My first read by this author, I was taken in by the title and the whole, Beauty and The Beat (my fav fairy tale), modern retelling or rather remodelling. I have to say, there are just as much I like about this book, as I don’t.
I liked the overall story and the outline has lot of promise, but this book is loaded with tropes, cliché, and it fell victim to trying to make it original, but didn’t quite know how to brake from the source material. It was a honest to goodness try, but I had a major problem with the Male MC aka the brute/beast. It unlike the source material, the best changes, slowly and in truth was never a bad character; this can also sort of be side for Tristan.. but, he never fully got there. I get it, he past was down right horrible…. but for him to have never really put his dead wife behind him and fully, truly commit to Elena.. takes away from the magic that is Beauty and the Beast.
There are a few others things that put me off, but that has to do with personal opinions.. and in truth I’m sure others would much enjoy. So I’m not going to dock points for that. Now on to the good.
The writing was soil, and the flow was nice and smooth. The story its had a nice tone, and really pulled you into the world that Jane Matisse crated. Elena was a great character, and she really did reminded me of Belle, maybe a bit more shy, but I liked her as a female MC. She has a heart of gold, and in truth is a bit to good for Tristan. But towards the end I did warm up to them as a couple, even if I feel like, their happy ever after, is going to be a rocky one.. but again that’s whats makes it all the more believable and realistic.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, as far as a retelling.. it was more, as I said, a remodelling. So please take my recommendation that you will find the story you love, mixed with the dark realities of the real world.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse 4 Stars
This is the second book I’ve read by this author. This book is the author’s interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. She definitely pulled it off. The parallels between the stories match perfectly. Elana and Tristan fit Beauty and the Beast personas perfectly. They met under abnormal circumstances and Elana is paying the debt her brother owed Tristan. Her brother was sent away to a rehab center while Elana moved into Tristan’s mansion to work off what he owed him. The dialogue between the two is very recognizable between the two stories. Tristan’s best friend Daniel would be Cogsworth. While the maid Paola and the butler Freddie are none other than Lumiere and Plumette. It was fun to read the similarities between the two stories. I really enjoyed finding out the secrets in the west wing. Tristan is very quick to anger, and the secrets he kept are the reason for the fort being built around his heart. He had to stay true to his past and the promise he kept. Elana was very naive, and hasn’t had a chance to live her own life. She has always just taken care of her brother and never has thought it could be any different. She is very selfless and wears her heart on her sleeve. She cares for others in a big way. They both love to read. Tristan is French and enjoys reading Victor Hugo in his native language. Elena enjoys the classics and a sprinkling of romance books between. Her favorite part of the house is the library closely followed by the garden.
I recommend this book to any Beauty and the Beast fan, or lover of fairytales. Tristan is definitely an Alpha male in all aspects while Elena is the damsel in distress.
Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse has become one of my favorite reeditions of the story of Beauty and the Beast. This is the first book I have read by Jane Matisse and it is a big hit. She has a way of capturing me from the first word to the last word in this story. She has complex fully developed characters, in which I can identify with and descriptive scenery that placed me inside the book. Elena and Tristen is the main two characters that takes you one the wild ride of your life. There are ups and downs, twists and turns, love and hate with every other emotion that you can imagine. I highly recommend reading this story with enough time to read in one sitting.
Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast By Jane Matisse. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. I love when my favorite stories get a modern spin on them and the author does a great job of mixing old with new. Elena is a fixer, she fixes everything for others before thinking of herself. She’s sassy and a book lover, my kind of character through and through. Tristan has more than his share of painful times in his life, now letting anyone in is the furthest thing from his mind. These two both grow in the book both separately and together. The chemistry is off the charts. It’s a well written story and my only complaint is I was sad when it was over. If you’re a fan of classic fairytales getting a modern twist I recommend this to you. I’m giving this book a five star review!
Bellaza and the Beast is a modern day fairytale by Jane Matisse. My first ride with this author, and what a thrill it was. Tristan and Elena were a captivating duo that kept me entertained, energized and mesmirised. I had no clue of the way this author would spin this, so it was like unwrapping a gift that kept on giving. Every chapter I became more involved. Every word I loved more than the last. It was a fascinating spin on a classic tale.
Elena meets Tristan and was instantly intrigued. The physical scars were evident and just made her hunger to know more. The way he made her feel was arousing. The way he fought his feelings was breathtaking. The ending was fitting. The complete package was magical. Jane Matisse gave a perfect tale a new twist and it was beautiful. I will definately be sampling more from this author. 5 stars
Belleza and the Brute is a novel by Jane Matisse. This is my first novel by this author.
After getting a late night phone call from her gambling addicted Adam, Elena is starts a job working for Tristan Merci to pay off her brother’s debt while he is rehab. The contract is for six months.
Years after looking everything in a blink of an eye, has changed Tristan. Made him distant and bitter. Because of the incident he is scarred both physically and mentally but Elena’s presence, is there a way for his heart to melt?
Beauty and the Beast is one my favorite Disney movies as well as stories so anything with an adaption or retelling of it, I am going to want to read it and this was no different.
While Elena seems shy she has a backbone and loved her brother dearly. When first meeting her brother, I didn’t like him. I felt he was manipulative and didn’t care about all Elena had done for him over the years.
I really enjoyed this novel very much. I would recommend it for someone looking for a fast retelling.
5 Stars
Belleza and the Brute is a fantastic story by Jane Matisse. This is Ms. Matisse’s second book and it is my favourite of hers, so far. The story is wonderful, a bit of a twist and modern touch to the classic “Beauty and the Beast”. The characters were particularly good, very well developed, and incredibly endearing. I snapped this book up as soon as it came up on my feed and I couldn’t read it quickly enough- I was completely captivated and immersed in the story right from the beginning- flying through the pages and devouring every word. I was so enchanted by this superb story that I read it in one sitting…. because I really didn’t want to put it down. The story has so much to love about it- taking the reader of a journey full of love, loss, grief, second chances, betrayal, and sooo much more.
Elena Salazar has had a lot of hardship and pain in her 26 years. Recently losing her job, she is incredibly worried about how she will make ends meet- so imagine her distress when she gets a call in the middle of the night from her wayward brother, begging her for money to help pay a gambling debt. But with no money to her name, Elena goes to the man her brother is indebted to in the hope of finding a solution to the problem. This puts her in the sights of Tristan Mercier, who has his own demons- haunted by a life-shattering event 5 years earlier, he is closed off, intimidating, dark and intense. But there is something about Elena that strikes a spark within Tristan. He is intrigued enough to offer her a deal that Elena really has no choice but to accept. The deal is that Elena would work for Tristan for a 6-month period to pay off the debt, while her brother goes to rehab to address his gambling problem. And so begins this incredible tale…….. but things are not quite what either are expecting. This deal will change their lives forever. You really should do yourself a favour and snap up a copy of this book for yourself and read all the intriguing details for yourself. You are bound to love it just as much as I have!
The story really had so much going for it and it was so easy to love. The storyline is a clever twist on the old classic, and even though there have been hundreds of ‘retellings’ that I’ve read over the years, this is definitely one of the best of that bunch. The story is witty- with funny quips, banter and antic; then there are touching and tender moments that melted my heart; the chemistry between Elena and Tristan was sizzling; there were suspenseful scenes that had me on the edge of my seat; which all amounted to me not being able to put the story down until I had finished the very last word.
Oh, and who wouldn’t love Toro- he’s such a wonderful addition to the story!
Bellissimo!
Thank you, Ms. Matisse!
The Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse
Five Stars
This story was very mellow and sweet. Nothing seemed rushed or forced. The characters were written well. Though Tristan was no brute. A little rough around the edges due to unfortunate events. I didn’t see any beastly qualities in him. I was borderline not liking but liking Elena. Like I would do anything within reason for my family but to live the way she did and not complain or tell her brother to get it together. She was most definitely playing the fool. I really liked the book and will be excited for more from this author.
Belleza and the Brute was a great 5 star read. This was a fun beauty and the beast theme and I loved it.
Elena gets a call from her brother, he once again has gotten himself in trouble. When she goes to help she meets Tristan the man who her brother is indebted to
Tristan has some darkness in his past and there is something about Elena that he is drawn to. Elena is drawn to Triatan as well but she also pushes him, little feisty and I loved it, She is also struggling with some things herself,
Can these two help put each other back together again? Can they really have a HEA?
Tristan and Elena were great characters. The secondary characters added a great element to the story. I was drawn right in from the beginning and didnt want to stop until I was done. There is so much going on my emotions were all over the place.I cant wait to read more from this author.
Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse is the first book I have read by this author and boy it is a good first impression. Belleza and the Brute is a contemporary romance story but is also a second chance tale one that I loved reading. The characters are caring and compassionate, faithful and loving. One though has lost his way after a traumatic event and just needs the love and understanding of someone wonderful to hopefully help him find his way. You will find yourself caught up in many emotions that pull at your heartstrings. Pain and hurt, loss and torment, love and caring will see you wanting to reach out to help. The chemistry is sexy and smoldering you will need a cigarette by the time you have finished. LOL.
If you love romance and second chances then this is a book that you don’t want to miss out on.
Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse
Four Stars
Belleza and the Brute: A Modern -Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse is a fairytale romance that had me hooked from the very first page. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Matisse, but definitely won’t be the last. I love the flow of this story, and the characters were wonderfully detailed and believable.
Elena Salazar is a strong woman, who continually bails out her brother who tends to find trouble wherever he goes. Tristan Mercier is willing to let Elana work off her brother’s debt, which is unusual for him because he is a loner since the accident. As Tristan and Elena spend more time together the more their walls come down, but can they learn to trust and love? You should check this book out to see what happens next.
About the author: Jane Matisse is a professional introvert… FANTASTIC!! I’m going to have cards made for me and her as our job titles because I am also. Love it!!!
BELLEZA AND THE BRUTE is the second book I’ve read by this author and I very much enjoyed it. While it has a bit of darkness, it has enough lightness that keeps it shining.
The characters are strongly developed and though each have issues, the M/m have a believable-ish story. The secondary characters carried the story nicely. It was also fun to find/compare characters who matched with the characters from the original fairy tale.
I recommend this story
This was my first book from this author and I enjoyed it. The storyline flowed well and was well developed. I picked it up as a fan of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. I appreciated the twists in the book and that it was not completely predictable. The author does a nice job with the retelling and creating a complete cast of characters to enthrall and entertain. Will definitely recommend and will read again.
Belleza and The Brute
By Jane Matisse
5 stars
I loved this book, so much in fact I didn’t put it down once whilst I was reading it. When I first read the blurb I was excited, Beauty and The Beast is my all-time favourite fairy tale and but I was also apprehensive that it would just be your typical retelling but it wasn’t at all. There were very subtle hints to it which I loved. I loved trying to guess who the characters in the story would be in the original too.
The storyline was really good and I loved Elena and Tristan. There were so many emotional moments in the book and when Tristan finally opened up about the incident that happened to him my heart actually hurt, I could totally understand why he was the way that he was. Elena was a feisty as I wanted her to be and the chemistry between then two of them was believable. The twist at the end although I think I guessed it was still unexpected!
The story was well written, had a fantastic pace and flow and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. It was a great introduction to a new author.