Arabella & The Beast

by Rebecca Baldwin

Arabella Ivers is won as payment for her father's gambling debts by a man known as the Beast, and although Arabella is satisfied with this marriage of convenience, she soon discovers that her husband hides a dark secret

Genres: Regency, Romance

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1988

Reviews

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2019 - bk 54. Of the regency subgenre "My daddy lost me to a man in a poker game" this is one of the best examples. Beast has been gone from England for many years. His father tied his fortune in a codicil so that Beast has to marry a girl of a 'good' family (meaning the ton). It happens after a faro (not poker) game. Arabella Ivers is the girl (at age 24, on the shelf, and used as a servant by her step mother) and she takes her chance to leave her not loving home. Confusion, tears, learning of shared interests, the usual problems with the former mistress. All's well that ends well - and if a reader of regency's doesn't know that they all end well.....

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been a MUCH better book if the author didn't use such ostentatious language (see what I did there?). I did like the premise, but so many words that were showy and over the top. Unnecessary. I feel the author could have alienated readers by using such big words.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been so long since I read a Regency Romance! Had this one because of the title- to see if it would fit into my Beauty & the Beast collection. Not really, except in the most superficial way although it was curious in that the author described 'Beast' Blackthorne's ballroom as being lined with candle holders in the shape of human arms- right out of Cocteau's B&B film. On its own it was a pleasant enough romance. Some nice descriptions of the fashions of the era but I did feel the author "name dropped" too many period fabrics and styles -to the point that I felt her research showing too blatantly. Typical marriage-of-convenience-turns-to-love but only after a long round of misunderstandings. A quick, OK read- pure fluff.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up from the library on the strength of its. hm. extremely eighties cover. Luckily it was a lot of fun, and more in the line of a Heyeresque regency than some of the older romance novels which have consistent problems with consent. This the absolute distilled essence of romance novel plot, except with the modest improvements of a love interest with an Actual sense of humor and a sensible protagonist. Her father lost her in a poker game. Her new aristocratic husband is actually nice. Buuut what about his vengeful mistress– and her father’s ongoing gaming debts?

Pure fluff, entirely predictable, and a lot of fun. I didn’t especially like how the Ex was Evil because Sexy, but that’s a recurrent problem in the genre.

[Eleanore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good first romance novel

[Katie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Arabella and the Beast. It was like Beauty and the Beast told in the style of Jane Austen. I loved the immersion and the lingo.

[Carol Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it alot.