A Beauty and the Beast retelling… and recluse.
A car accident left Rowan Masters burned—both physically and emotionally. He’s spent the last twelve years hiding in his family home—and now, to keep his home he’s forced to marry.
Isabeau loves the feeling of safety that Rowan’s mansion offers, and he needs a wife. When a marriage of convenience turns into something more, can they leave behind the nightmare of the past and find the beauty in loving each other?
Other books by Bree Livingston:
The Clean Billionaire Romance Series:
1. Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend
2. Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart
3. Her Broken Billionaire Boss
4. Her Fake Billionaire Fiancé
5. Her Stranded Billionaire Mix-Up
6. Her Secret Billionaire Roommate
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Series:
1. The Cowboy’s Fake Marriage
2. The Star’s Fake Marriage
3. The Bodyguard’s Fake Marriage
4. The Matchmaker’s Fake Marriage
5. The Beast’s Fake Marriage
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Series:
1. The Ranger’s Chance
2. The Ranger’s Peace
3. The Ranger’s Heart
4. The Ranger’s Hope
5. The Ranger’s Forgiveness
A Clean Scottish Romance Series:
1. Mending the Billionaire Movie Star
2. Mending the Billionaire Scotsman
3. Mending the Billionaire Brother
Stand Alone Romances:
Love and Charity
The Mistletoe Game: A Clean Christmas Novella
more
This book is a clean contemporary romance with a fairytale twist. It was a sweet, lighthearted story and I read it all in one day.
I liked the author’s writing style. The dialogue was good, the characters realistic, and the motivations and actions believable. There was also a sprinkling of humor mixed in. The tongue in cheek mentions of the Beauty and the Beast tale were made me laugh.
However, the time jumps gave me reader’s whiplash. Isabell got the job at the mansion, and the very next chapter, two weeks had passed. There were a couple other large gaps of time that passed in time jumps. And I understand, there was a point that was trying to be made with the amount of time going by, but I kind of wish the author had slowed it down in a few places and showed some more that was going on between chapters.
No judgement intended, but if it had been that way, the readers could have gotten a chance to better discover and fall in love with the characters, figure out things along with them, and go through their struggles with them.
I did like Rowan, Isabell, and the other characters. Their stories were interesting and skillfully told. Although, I did find that both Rowan and Isabell had their same thoughts and fears through about ninety percent of the book, until the problems had suddenly been resolved.
Don’t get me wrong, I get that Isabell stopped worrying about telling Rowan about her past after she confessed and he understood, and I liked that Rowan had come to terms with his past and was so comfortable with his scars that he totally forgot about them until after he had faced people. But again, things happened crazy fast and he went from hating his face and hiding it to suddenly forgetting about his scars and going out in public without fear or a second thought.
There was a misunderstanding between the characters, but it was cleared up quickly and with a maturity you don’t often see in books or characters. It was refreshing and I appreciated that.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author. I recommend this story to anyone who loves clean reads, contemporary romances, or Beauty and the Beast.
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the novel The Beast’s Fake Marriage: A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book Five by Bree Livingston and this review was given freely.
A suspenseful and emotional modern day take on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. Emotionally scarred former Physical Therapist Isabeau moves to Texas to rebuild her life after her abusive ex Steven almost kills her. However, becoming the maid to physically scarred Attorney Rowan Masters is not the reclusive and quiet job she was hoping for as her emotions and fears are challenged by a marriage of convenience in order for her employer to keep his home.
It was a cute BatB goes to Texas! I liked the fact that all the people in this story had real problems that didn’t magically go away at the end of the story. It did make me crave sour patch kids though!
A very sweet story. I loved the dynamic between the two characters. I loved how two damaged people found the other perfect in their own eyes. Great story.
Loved the characters true love looks on the inside not the outward appearance
A wonderfully written clean romance story. I loved this book. This is a excellent read from Bree Livingston.
I really enjoyed reading this story!
A modern day Beauty & the Beast.
It is a touching & emotional story.
Isabeau’s life has been hell for the last
two years, because of a deranged stalker.
It left her a shell of who she used to be.
Izzy applied for a job at the home
of a lawyer, who is also a recluse.
Rowan had been in an accident, that
left him badly burned. After being given
a copy of his father’s will, he’s forced
to marry. But who? He never leaves
the house. Till Rowan meets Izzy.
I love everything about the story!!