“This is Beast. Beast is the size of a Volkswagen and has an impossible amount of buds and blooms. Beast also has thorns. But if you can sneak close enough to catch a whiff, and avoid the gnarly thorns, you’ll be ruined for all the other roses for the rest of your life. The sweetest, most addictive scent amongst the thorns.” That’s what mom told my little sister and I once. She led us close … close enough to look but no further as she spoke of her favorite rosebush that she had affectionately named Beast.
That was a long time ago.
These days I know another Beast. A different kind of wild, untamed thing. He too is dangerous to get too close to. It’s unfortunate that I can’t afford to care, not when he’s the key to finding my sister.
They called him The Beast of Boston when he was a professional boxer. Now he rules over a bunch of criminals—the same criminals I hope will lead to my sister. I won’t stop until she’s found. I’ll get as close to Beast as it takes, gnarly thorns and all.
The problem is I’m so busy worrying for my own physical safety that I never considered how my heart would behave. Mom was right about one thing: I am ruined for all the roses for the rest of my life and it’s much too late to change it now.
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OMG!!! LOVED this book! It is one of my top 10 reads of 2020. JL Mac completely pulled me into The Beast’s dark underworld. I was mesmerized!!!!
As you might imagine, there are elements of the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, but this is nothing like the Disney movie. The beast in this version is much scarier. He is ruthless and intimidating. Beauty isn’t the shy little bookworm either. She is strong and can be pretty intimidating herself and has a taste for vengeance.
Ena’s sister, Lan, has gone missing. She has every intention of bringing her home no matter the personal cost to herself. That is how she finds herself lying to her mother and applying for a job as an exotic dancer at the club, Eden, which is run by The Beast of Boston. He is second in command to Orin McCrae, one of the most notorious crime bosses in the country. She is sure there is a connection.
Can I just say that Ena is my hero? This woman is incredible. At her first meeting with him, she is mentally shaking in her boots. However, she never gives anything away. She learned to do this the hard way. Her childhood was tragic until she became part of a wonderful family who showed her what love was, yet she couldn’t completely shed all that trauma she experienced. That comes in handy when dealing with Beast. She has prepared for every instance except the attraction she has for him. As time passes, she will have to face the battle between her mind and her heart because they are telling her two very different things.
Oh, Beast, who knew a monster could so sexy and appealing?
“How funny that this monster–this Beast of Boston–is also gargantuan and happens to sport one lifelike red rose of his one. He too has thorns, just not the type you can see. His are hidden, and they’re that much more dangerous for it. He’s a pretty monster. That’s not quite accurate though. He’s not pretty. He’s beautiful.”
He is such a complex and tormented human. Mac did such a magnificent job of peeling back his layers. She does this through the chapters that are told from his point of view. I saw the ruthlessness and the need to punish those that wronged him. However, I also saw glimpses of tenderness and loyalty. He had very few people he was really close to and trusted, but if you were lucky enough to have him in your corner, you had nothing to fear from him, except his overprotectiveness. That was kind of endearing!
The chemistry between these two both inside and outside of the bedroom was INTENSE!!!! Both were so stubborn and neither would give in easily. Two people were never better matched!!
The romance and suspense were blended together flawlessly. I’m not sure what kept me flying through the pages more…would these two finally give into their desire, or what other twist and secret did Mac have in store for me.
I cannot leave this review without expressing how much I LOVE Mac’s writing. Yes, this is a dark read, but her writing is beautiful, I would almost say magical. It really connected me on an emotional level.
“Ignoring her disappearance, not bringing up her existence? Are we both too cowardice to stir the sediment of the shipwreck, knowing the murk would blind both of us from finding our way back to the surface?”
In this passage, it clearly illustrates the devastating pain Ena and her mother feel about Lan’s disappearance. It was just beautiful!!!! I also loved Mac’s story of how she came up with the idea of this book. It began with a rosebush, and she turned it into such a beautiful and emotional read!!!!
A story of betrayal, loyalty, loss and family. He’s The Beast, he’s dark, dangerous, and not at all what she expected.
Ena was raised in a foster home until she was ten years old. She never knew her mother or father. She was told a story about her mother and when she finally moved in with a family that showed her love and what family was, she decided to keep her last name in case her mother came looking for her when she got older. Little did she know that her whole life had been a lie and due to extenuating circumstances, her life was about to change completely, and she could just hold on for the ride.
Carrick “The Beast of Boston” had a tough life as a child and when he was fifteen his life changed, and he found his calling. He put his anger and energy into fighting in the ring and became a legend in the boxing world. As he got older, he had to stop boxing and step up to help in the family business. After his father died when he was fifteen, Beast was taken in by his father’s boss, Orin, the boss of the Irish Mafia in Boston. Now he had to step up and become the second in command for Orin and the family. Beast is only loyal to his family and when a woman walks into his club and puts herself in his life, she turns it upside down and he has no idea what’s going to come next.
I loved the characters in this story. Ena is brave, strong, determined, and loyal to those she cares about. Beast is the same way with his family. These two had chemistry off the charts, but they both tried to deny it for their own reasons. When the truth of Ena’s reasons for infiltrating Eden come out and her true identity comes to light, they both have to struggle with what is right and determine where to go from there. The story is full of action, steamy chemistry, and great characters. I give the story a 5-star review. This was my first read of Jaimi Shannon, but I really enjoyed her book and would look for more if there were more on these characters. I would love to read Alana and Murphy’s story. I think Alana has a lot to tell. If you like action packed mafia stories you will love this book. It does have a dark side but is written well and makes the whole story.
This might just be my favorite Beauty & the Beast retelling so far!! JL Mac is a new to me author and after this book she definitely won me over! I love a good mafia romance and couple it with my favorite fairytale retelling and we have a winner!!!
Ena Devlin had a rough childhood. Growing up in foster care, with people that mistreated her rather than care for her, she never new family love. Her life got better when she was 10 and a cop rescued her. Since that day she found a place to call home and a family that love her. Now Ena is 22 years old, her father died at the line of duty and her since is missing. Her only chance to find her is to infiltrate the High Knoll and get answers.
Carrick ‘The Beast of Boston’ Ferguson is a legend; a Southie boxer turned underboss for the Irish mob. When a woman comes to his club asking for a job, he realizes that she’s a liar. Instead of turning her away, he hires her in order to find her secrets. He never thought that she’ll change his life forever!
“I landed myself in the Beast’s castle but instead of me changing him, he changed me. Completely. Irrevocably. Eternally.”
Their relationship is explosive, even before he knew who she really was! Carrick is ruthless and cold but at times we saw his softer side with Ena. She compliments him perfectly; she’s strong, feisty and ready to do anything for her loved ones. Their story is a whirlwind ride. They will go through so much because they can get their HEA! I’m really curious about some of the other characters and I’m hoping that we’ll get their stories at some point!!!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
This is the first book in years from JL Mac. I couldn’t wait to read it. This particular novel focuses on a former boxer now in charge of the mob and a future police detective.
Ena or Abigail Talley as she’s known to Carrick “The Beast” Ferguson is an undercover civilian looking for her missing sister. She thinks The Beast may know where she is. Dangerous game that is.
Carrick is trying to figure out who Abigail Talley really is. He know she’s lying about her name…so who is she? Whomever she is it’s not going to be pretty when he finds out!
If you’re a fan of mob/suspense stories you’ll be engaged in this book to see what all is happening. The truth may not be as easy as it seems and it’s up to these two to figure that out!
Welcome back JL Mac! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
4 Stars
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night with Books
Former famous boxer, The Beast of Boston, Carrick is now a cold-hearted mafia boss. He does what is needed without a second thought as to what he has done. However, when a woman shows up looking for a job he knows something is up but he just does not know what. So, he vows to find out, and the only way he knows how is to make her his. But doing so comes with a price, is he willing to pay that price?
Ena’s life was not the best until she was taken in by a police officer and his family. Since then, they have become the only family she has ever known. So, when a cold-blooded killer kills her father and then her sister is abducted, she vows to do everything she can to make her person pay. And that person, in her eyes, is Carrick.
Carrick and Ena are two people cut from the same cloth but are so very different. Carrick is cold-hearted, as stated above, and Ena is loving. However, the chemistry that two share is off the charts hot. JL has done a wonderful job with the entire story that leaves you with a book hangover. Although, to me, there was a little more drama than there should have been. I felt that some of the issues could have been resolved a lot sooner than when it was. Other than that, my attention was hooked all throughout. I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next! I would LOVE to read more about Carrick and Ena.
The Beast of Boston by J.L Mac is the story of Carrick ‘Beast of Boston’ and Ena.
Ena has taken a step out of her regular life to enter into a dark world where she hopes to find her missing sister. This leads her to take a job at one of Carrick’s clubs in order to find leads to her sister. Carrick was once a successful boxer called the Beast of Boston but now is a Mafia boss who is ruthless. But when he sees Ena she is someone he is drawn too and very possessive up. But he knows she has secrets and she isn’t someone he can keep. Enjoyed their story.
Carrick is known as “The Beast of Boston” since his days on being a professional boxer, who in turn is now a mafia boss. Ena is searching for her sister and looks for a job in one of Carrick’s strip clubs as she believes he can help her. No spoilers: this is a definite must read you will not be disappointed! This is a beautifully written tale which is dark, intense, unpredictable, and with drama, danger, secrets, suspense, and with twists throughout. I was totally enthralled throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all.
4.5 stars
Beauty and the Beast meets the mafia!
Carrick Ferguson was known as the Beast of Boston when he was a successful boxer. But now he is a mafia boss and owner of multiple businesses with various states of legitimacy. He is intense, ruthless, intuitive, and in control. He does what needs to be done and does not have a conscience about taking care of business.
But when an intriguing woman shows up in his strip club looking for a job as a dancer he cannot help but delve deeper. She is beautiful, bold, brave, and obviously keeping secrets. And he is determined to figure them out.
Ena has an agenda and the only way to get the information she needs is to put herself right in the middle of the devil’s playground. She has put her own life and on hold and is determined to find answers. But she never anticipated the magnetic pull to the devil himself.
Dancing with the devil can be dangerous…both to her life and her heart. And a dark man conflicted is even more unpredictable. This is a twisted suspenseful fairytale of a bad man meeting a tough woman. And their collision will be anything but tame…but maybe they both like it that way. But it is one rollercoaster of angst, secrets, lies, and surprises.
The Beast could act cold, but I still liked him. His protectiveness and possessiveness seemed to rule many of his decisions. She is the one thing that can get to him and make him lose control. And Ena is not a wilting flower. She is not afraid to take on the monsters and do what has to be done. They are combustible and at times toxic. But their connection is intense and undeniable no matter how complicated and messy. The push and pull is powerful and ongoing.
But is there a way to navigate the rules of his world, the web of secrets, and still keep her safe?
It is a long book with a lot to unfold. I was glad it is in told in dual points of view since I needed to see into his head. The side characters and the whole Boston underworld add depth and drama. I was especially interested in his friend, Murph and her sister, Lan. That’s a whole other story. The twists and unraveling secrets keep this one interesting. It’s about loyalty, family, acceptance, and if love can survive even in darkness.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.