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More Than Scars
Disclaimer: This story is a modern day Fairytale. Prepare for events that go beyond the normal day events you are use to. Plan on a happily ever after escape.
They say that the best way to heal is to find someone who suffers more and invest in their healing. Nerissa Meadows decides to make a change in career and experiences the strangest of interviews. She had been through so much but nothing like her soon to be employer, Liam Byrne. His scars have stolen from him...from his two little girls. It's as if life has ceased to exist outside of his own front door in order to protect what he loves and keep out what he fears. He perceives his weakness but Nerissa sees in him a wounded hero. Her heart aches for his two girls. Their young lives have been touched by too much sadness! They need her and she finds that she most desperately needs them. Fairytales can take shape in the most unlikely of places!
They say that the best way to heal is to find someone who suffers more and invest in their healing. Nerissa Meadows decides to make a change in career and experiences the strangest of interviews. She had been through so much but nothing like her soon to be employer, Liam Byrne. His scars have stolen from him...from his two little girls. It's as if life has ceased to exist outside of his own front door in order to protect what he loves and keep out what he fears. He perceives his weakness but Nerissa sees in him a wounded hero. Her heart aches for his two girls. Their young lives have been touched by too much sadness! They need her and she finds that she most desperately needs them. Fairytales can take shape in the most unlikely of places!
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2014
19 people are currently reading
990 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Brocious
8 books105 followersSarah Brocious was born into a steadily growing family. She is one of eight siblings. Growing up in a "crowded" home gave her a great need to slip away for some time alone. In those times she chose to read or write. She found no greater joy than creating stories. This desire continued to grow but as does often happen...life got in the way. Her love for writing did not diminish. It was pushed aside for a time. Now she has decided to put her "need to" aside and give into the want to.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 20, 2015
I was hooked from the very beginning. And here's the thing, this is not my normal read. I usually do YA fantasy and I didn't miss that at all. I loved the romance and feelings that it stirred. I was endeared to the main character, Nerissa, right away. The pacing of the book was perfect and I was never bored. I loved all the characters and especially enjoyed Ian. The book left me happy and also wanting more. Such a beautiful story.
January 20, 2022
I was torn over rating More Than Scars. To me, it's 5 stars for the potential, 1 star for the execution. The rant is ON!
It started out great: a cancer survivor teacher comes to work for a mysterious recluse millionaire, to care for his 2 children after their mother dies. The job interview unexpectedly leads to some soul-searching, the recluse is a lonely gentleman with a tragic past and scars to show for it, the heroine is cute and strong.
I was settling in for an amazing comfort read, expecting it to join my favorites.
But then it all went donhill FAST.
1) It seemed like the writing got progressively juvenile and dumb with each chapter.
The heroine, a woman over 30 years old, constantly refers to her "tummy" in a way that reminded me of "50-Shades of Grey" inner monologues.
2) The writing got very annoying. Sarah Brocious used so many ellipses... and exclamation points! For no... apparent reason! At random points in the sentences! It felt like being on a bumpy ride in a vehicle that unexpectedly lurches and stops all the time. It made me dizzy. Case in point:
The dialogues were awful. All of the characters spoke in exactly the same way, no matter their position, background, gender, etc. No human beings on planet Earth talk like that. The words managed to be awkward and juvenile at the same time. The characters themselves were juvenile and unbelievable. I couldn't take it seriously that Liam was supposed to be a nearly 40-year-old man the way he was written.
3) The plot holes were numerous and the villain laughable. These things I wouldn't have minded much if I weren't already irritated. With genre romance books, especially the "modern-day fairytale" kind I'm willing to suspend my disbelief veeeeery far.
The love story itself, while nice enough, was a little too drawn out and cringy at times.
The heroine, while herself being an employee in love with her boss, scorns other employees for that same thing:
4) The typos were so abundant, it surprised me. Usually, 10 times fewer typos get on my nerves so this was completely unacceptable for me. While for the first half of the book I was willing to forgive other drawbacks of More Than Scars and enjoy it, the typos took me out of the atmosphere like a slap in the face. A free grammar checking app would have highlighted them, but the author obviously didn't bother at all. This is disrespectful of the readers. See for yourself:
5) And apparently, the author thinks typos are cute:
Any redeeming qualities? Yes!
Despite everything, I liked the general outline of the story. It was cute, and if it was written better, I would have loved it.
The heroine had dignity and some backbone and I appreciated that. I felt like the author didn't do her justice. This woman is a cancer survivor, but the fact is only mentioned once in the entire book and doesn't seem to have had any impact on her at all.
Verdict: Don't waste your time.
It started out great: a cancer survivor teacher comes to work for a mysterious recluse millionaire, to care for his 2 children after their mother dies. The job interview unexpectedly leads to some soul-searching, the recluse is a lonely gentleman with a tragic past and scars to show for it, the heroine is cute and strong.
I was settling in for an amazing comfort read, expecting it to join my favorites.
But then it all went donhill FAST.
1) It seemed like the writing got progressively juvenile and dumb with each chapter.
I heard him frown. Crazy as that sounds, I did.
The same moment I smiled, I also frowned.
I felt my tummy explode with butterflies when one of his scarred thumbs brushed a tear from my cheek. It felt like a brand and again I was holding my breath and trying to breath at the same time.
The heroine, a woman over 30 years old, constantly refers to her "tummy" in a way that reminded me of "50-Shades of Grey" inner monologues.
Butterflies set loose in my tummy at his nerves. “I believe I have been a little too forward with you.” The butterflies died.
My tummy did a free fall at the latter thought.
On my way out of the last store, my tummy told me it was time for lunch.
I couldn’t help the bubble of joy in my tummy.
2) The writing got very annoying. Sarah Brocious used so many ellipses... and exclamation points! For no... apparent reason! At random points in the sentences! It felt like being on a bumpy ride in a vehicle that unexpectedly lurches and stops all the time. It made me dizzy. Case in point:
Once she made up her mind…it was made!
Dark! It was dark but the snow that night! The snow was stained in red…blood, my father’s blood!
Your voice…lovely as it is…just isn’t enough anymore!
He couldn’t see past his own nose! He couldn’t see past his own tragedy! His girls were going to suffer for it to! And he was hiding!
He is stubborn…good…but stubborn. It is how he has survived but…forgive me…it is how he has remained stuck!
Low staff on Sunday…even nowadays…probably more so then…when he could trust.
In truth…I deserved nothing…in fact…I hadn’t earned anything yet.
The dialogues were awful. All of the characters spoke in exactly the same way, no matter their position, background, gender, etc. No human beings on planet Earth talk like that. The words managed to be awkward and juvenile at the same time. The characters themselves were juvenile and unbelievable. I couldn't take it seriously that Liam was supposed to be a nearly 40-year-old man the way he was written.
3) The plot holes were numerous and the villain laughable. These things I wouldn't have minded much if I weren't already irritated. With genre romance books, especially the "modern-day fairytale" kind I'm willing to suspend my disbelief veeeeery far.
The love story itself, while nice enough, was a little too drawn out and cringy at times.
The heroine, while herself being an employee in love with her boss, scorns other employees for that same thing:
I got to the poolroom and frowned at two maids standing outside…hoping for a glance of Ian, no doubt! It sickened me.
4) The typos were so abundant, it surprised me. Usually, 10 times fewer typos get on my nerves so this was completely unacceptable for me. While for the first half of the book I was willing to forgive other drawbacks of More Than Scars and enjoy it, the typos took me out of the atmosphere like a slap in the face. A free grammar checking app would have highlighted them, but the author obviously didn't bother at all. This is disrespectful of the readers. See for yourself:
[...] all my work, all my struggles, are for not.
Willing to be with someone who would accept him for his money verses someone [...]
I pressed passed him and into the kitchen.
I rushed passed him, back into the girls room.
[...] it didn’t set well with either party.
It was good to away.
It will work, out Rissa, I promise!
Just a little bit a go when you grabbed [...]
[...] letting to let him minister gently.
She turned to be expectantly.
He wanted me to me a motherly influence for the girls.
I was so surprise I almost did not notice [...]
I threw down the letter and the letter onto my comforter.
He obeyed swiftly and with trustingly.
5) And apparently, the author thinks typos are cute:
His breath brushed my cheek when we laughed over my misspelling [...]
Any redeeming qualities? Yes!
Despite everything, I liked the general outline of the story. It was cute, and if it was written better, I would have loved it.
The heroine had dignity and some backbone and I appreciated that. I felt like the author didn't do her justice. This woman is a cancer survivor, but the fact is only mentioned once in the entire book and doesn't seem to have had any impact on her at all.
Verdict: Don't waste your time.
February 11, 2016
More Than Scars was a very sweet modern day fairytale. It had me sighing one moment and anxious the next.
The characters were very likeable and well thought out.
This was a heartwarming story about learning to trust, that not all those around you will break you if given the chance and also learning to let go. Believing that you can find faith in that one person who will be your saving grace and you theirs, was a part of this happily ever after.
Amazing job Sarah :)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
December 31, 2015
4.5 Stars
Nerissa Meadows hasn't had an easy life. She has been put through the wringer on more than one occasion. When cancer took away her dream of becoming a mother, she decided to change careers from a teacher to a nanny. Her interview with the mysterious Liam Byrne is anything but ordinary. She is instructed to not look at him, to keep her eyes lowered. Even though it was the strangest of interviews, Nerissa feels an instant connection to Liam. And when she meets little Brianne and Amelia, she is a goner. She knows that she is right where she needs to be.
Liam is broken and scarred. There are very few people that he actually trusts. He, too, has been put through the wringer and he has closed himself off from the world, both physically and emotionally. His life is his two little girls and he will do anything and everything to protect them from the ugliness of the world.
Nerissa definitely has her work cut out for her when it comes to Liam. She has to teach him to love, to trust, to face his fears, to live. She has to show him that there is so much more to a person than just their outside appearance... that it's what's on the inside that matters most. He has the hardest time seeing and understanding this but Nerissa refuses to give up on him. She will earn his trust and she will help him face his demons.
I loved watching Nerissa and Liam grow and become stronger, not only as a couple but as individuals as well. They both know a thing or two about heartache and suffering. Watching them lean on each other and encourage each other was one of my favorite parts of the book. I felt their heartache, their pain, their happiness, their love. It felt like I was right there with them on their journey to discover their own HEA.
And can I just how much I loved all the characters in this book?! Especially Ian! Holy crow! He was seriously awesome! And little Brianne and Amelia... so stinkin adorable! I fell in love with them instantly. :)
I am a complete sucker for any kind of Beauty and the Beast story. When I stumbled upon More Than Scars and read a few reviews, I knew it was one that I just had to read. I was sucked in from the very beginning and had an extremely hard time putting it down! I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early just to finish it!
So why only 4 stars? There is just two things that bugged me. I'm not going to get into too much detail because this story was really good and I think that everyone should definitely give this book a try. First there was just way too many exclamation points throughout the entire book. The majority of the time they just did not fit and were not needed. The second thing is the book just ended! And you all know how I feel about that... I hate it! I need closure dang it! Lol. I would have loved an epilogue just to tie everything together.
This is the first book by Sarah Brocious that I have read and I will definitely be reading more by her.. especially if she ever decides to give Ian his own book... ;) Hehe. I love finding new authors that I can share with others. It seriously makes me happy when I can add more to my list of authors to watch. :)
And we can't forget about my casting! What do you think?! Pretty good, eh? ;)
Nerissa Meadows hasn't had an easy life. She has been put through the wringer on more than one occasion. When cancer took away her dream of becoming a mother, she decided to change careers from a teacher to a nanny. Her interview with the mysterious Liam Byrne is anything but ordinary. She is instructed to not look at him, to keep her eyes lowered. Even though it was the strangest of interviews, Nerissa feels an instant connection to Liam. And when she meets little Brianne and Amelia, she is a goner. She knows that she is right where she needs to be.
Liam is broken and scarred. There are very few people that he actually trusts. He, too, has been put through the wringer and he has closed himself off from the world, both physically and emotionally. His life is his two little girls and he will do anything and everything to protect them from the ugliness of the world.
Nerissa definitely has her work cut out for her when it comes to Liam. She has to teach him to love, to trust, to face his fears, to live. She has to show him that there is so much more to a person than just their outside appearance... that it's what's on the inside that matters most. He has the hardest time seeing and understanding this but Nerissa refuses to give up on him. She will earn his trust and she will help him face his demons.
I loved watching Nerissa and Liam grow and become stronger, not only as a couple but as individuals as well. They both know a thing or two about heartache and suffering. Watching them lean on each other and encourage each other was one of my favorite parts of the book. I felt their heartache, their pain, their happiness, their love. It felt like I was right there with them on their journey to discover their own HEA.
And can I just how much I loved all the characters in this book?! Especially Ian! Holy crow! He was seriously awesome! And little Brianne and Amelia... so stinkin adorable! I fell in love with them instantly. :)
I am a complete sucker for any kind of Beauty and the Beast story. When I stumbled upon More Than Scars and read a few reviews, I knew it was one that I just had to read. I was sucked in from the very beginning and had an extremely hard time putting it down! I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early just to finish it!
So why only 4 stars? There is just two things that bugged me. I'm not going to get into too much detail because this story was really good and I think that everyone should definitely give this book a try. First there was just way too many exclamation points throughout the entire book. The majority of the time they just did not fit and were not needed. The second thing is the book just ended! And you all know how I feel about that... I hate it! I need closure dang it! Lol. I would have loved an epilogue just to tie everything together.
This is the first book by Sarah Brocious that I have read and I will definitely be reading more by her.. especially if she ever decides to give Ian his own book... ;) Hehe. I love finding new authors that I can share with others. It seriously makes me happy when I can add more to my list of authors to watch. :)
And we can't forget about my casting! What do you think?! Pretty good, eh? ;)
April 27, 2015
I decided to write my own review on a book I dearly love.
So I am obviously partial to this book. I wrote it...I created the characters...I spent the months of work it took to weave the story of Liam and Nerissa.
Warning: I truly love fairytales and this is not your ordinary romance. It is an escape from the ordinary.
I believe in a world where love can still catch you off guard and where the best part is the falling stage. Those shy glances, the racing heart, flushed cheeks, and the butterflies? That's magic.
Writing this book was a joy for me. I hope that those who read see the heart in this story. I hope that...even if it is a modern day fairytale...they can relate to one or more of my beloved characters. I hope it provides an escape.
Thank you! :)
So I am obviously partial to this book. I wrote it...I created the characters...I spent the months of work it took to weave the story of Liam and Nerissa.
Warning: I truly love fairytales and this is not your ordinary romance. It is an escape from the ordinary.
I believe in a world where love can still catch you off guard and where the best part is the falling stage. Those shy glances, the racing heart, flushed cheeks, and the butterflies? That's magic.
Writing this book was a joy for me. I hope that those who read see the heart in this story. I hope that...even if it is a modern day fairytale...they can relate to one or more of my beloved characters. I hope it provides an escape.
Thank you! :)
July 13, 2017
I read this near the beginning of the month and I forgot to add it to my GR. It was an enjoyable enough book, airing on the side of being unrealistic and fairytale like, but overall it was a cute, light read.
Probably won't do a real review because I've forgotten the majority of the finer details by now, but I'm a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, what can I say?
totally irrelevant but I am in love with the new movie, I can't stop watching it and this book had me binge watching disney afterwards lol
Probably won't do a real review because I've forgotten the majority of the finer details by now, but I'm a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, what can I say?
totally irrelevant but I am in love with the new movie, I can't stop watching it and this book had me binge watching disney afterwards lol
November 2, 2014
Yes,
It did for Nerissa & Liam. : )
More Than Scars is a contemporary & endearing fairytale that I highly recommend to all grown up princesses & princes!
5 HEA stars.
September 29, 2015
A sweet, fairytale story. There is pain and sadness, as well as love and redemption. The story shows that when we go through trials and trouble, we all emerge with scars; some of which may be visible while others hidden. If you like reading a story that makes you feel good in the end, read this! It leaves you with the same feeling of happiness you have after watching a fairytale movie...like Cinderella, perhaps? :)
February 5, 2017
What a pleasent surprise! I'm still high on the excitment of this book. Can it be someone more perfect than Liam Byrne? I don't think so.
I just finished More Than Scars and all I can say is I want more, I literally didn't wanted to end it because I wanted to keep reading about this amazing family, I swear that I wasn't expecting to like this book so much, like I've mentioned before I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast stories and I'm in that mood right now so I've been reading a lot about this lately and I must say I'm completely and uterely in love with this book!
"You are so concerned about my brother hiding behind his scars...you hide behind your smiles"
I kept turning the pages into the night, the writting is fantastic! the story is so wonderful and the characters are the best thing about this book, you just can't help but love them all! Liam and Nerissa, and Ian! and the girls! and the house staff! everyone in this book was lovely and I fell in love with each one of them.
"We all had our scars. Some were on the insie and some were on the outside"
This truly has been one of the best surprises of the year for me so far, this book is going straight to my favorites, I'm sure it's a story I'll read more than once, hell I would have love for it to last forever, I seriously can't say how much I loved this book. I dare to say it's been the best read of the year so far. Five stars! and I would give them a hundreed if I could!
"We were more than our scars"
I just finished More Than Scars and all I can say is I want more, I literally didn't wanted to end it because I wanted to keep reading about this amazing family, I swear that I wasn't expecting to like this book so much, like I've mentioned before I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast stories and I'm in that mood right now so I've been reading a lot about this lately and I must say I'm completely and uterely in love with this book!
"You are so concerned about my brother hiding behind his scars...you hide behind your smiles"
I kept turning the pages into the night, the writting is fantastic! the story is so wonderful and the characters are the best thing about this book, you just can't help but love them all! Liam and Nerissa, and Ian! and the girls! and the house staff! everyone in this book was lovely and I fell in love with each one of them.
"We all had our scars. Some were on the insie and some were on the outside"
This truly has been one of the best surprises of the year for me so far, this book is going straight to my favorites, I'm sure it's a story I'll read more than once, hell I would have love for it to last forever, I seriously can't say how much I loved this book. I dare to say it's been the best read of the year so far. Five stars! and I would give them a hundreed if I could!
"We were more than our scars"
October 2, 2014
A very sweet story! Nerissa and Liam were like the modern day Beauty & the Beast. The story felt like a fairytale from beginning to end. Loved the interaction between Nerissa and Liam's little ones! The entire supporting cast was wonderful to read about, Ian, Al, Stuart. : )
If you're looking for a heartwarming story with a fairytale feel, don't miss More than Scars!
If you're looking for a heartwarming story with a fairytale feel, don't miss More than Scars!
December 22, 2014
So I saw that this book was added to one of my GR friends. Now I read the blurb and I have a major soft spot for beauty and the beast themed books and men with kids this book is one of the best that I have read so far. 4 Stars.
Nerissa has a job for a nanny position with the multi billionaire Liam Byrne to look after his two girls Brianne and Ameila. Ever since her cancer she has wanted to change her life. Nerissa has no visible scars but they still run deep.
Liam Byrne is scared on the inside as well as the outside but he has a heart of gold. He and Nerissa overcome their demons together. I loved this book.
Nerissa has a job for a nanny position with the multi billionaire Liam Byrne to look after his two girls Brianne and Ameila. Ever since her cancer she has wanted to change her life. Nerissa has no visible scars but they still run deep.
Liam Byrne is scared on the inside as well as the outside but he has a heart of gold. He and Nerissa overcome their demons together. I loved this book.
April 7, 2015
3.5 STARS
I came across this title whilst browsing one of my GR friends shelf, I enjoy the beauty and the beast retelling and the imperfect/scarred hero trope..
I enjoyed the story, and if your in the mood for a fairy tale with a little bit of drama, this could be for you. A widowed scarred man, falls for his newly hired nanny, and due to his insecurities about his facial disfigurement fights his feelings.
Sweetly written with a heartwarming storyline, a few typos, but a good easy read!
I came across this title whilst browsing one of my GR friends shelf, I enjoy the beauty and the beast retelling and the imperfect/scarred hero trope..
I enjoyed the story, and if your in the mood for a fairy tale with a little bit of drama, this could be for you. A widowed scarred man, falls for his newly hired nanny, and due to his insecurities about his facial disfigurement fights his feelings.
Sweetly written with a heartwarming storyline, a few typos, but a good easy read!
December 24, 2018
I saw this near the top of a Goodreads list of clean romance books. I had never heard of it but a couple readers I trust had read and loved it.
Great book!!
Note - this has a lot of typos, I loved the character and story so was able to overlook them but there are errors throughout.
Content: Mild innuendo, mild swearing
Great book!!
Note - this has a lot of typos, I loved the character and story so was able to overlook them but there are errors throughout.
Content: Mild innuendo, mild swearing
January 20, 2016
Very sweet romance. I love that there was just enough steam without going overboard. The intimate moments were loving and kinda HOT because you could feel the want, but the fact that they held back? Made it even more steamy! Good read!
March 11, 2016
A friend recommended this story to me. Oh my GOD! I was hooked from the beginning.
Liam and Nerissa were wonderful, but the way the author portrayed the love of the children and their father? It was amazing. I was so touched by this story. I am going to read each and every one of this ladies books.
Liam and Nerissa were wonderful, but the way the author portrayed the love of the children and their father? It was amazing. I was so touched by this story. I am going to read each and every one of this ladies books.
February 8, 2016
A gentle and sweet book. It reminded me of that movie Rigoletto with the rich reclusive man who was misunderstood but Liam was not abrasive. He was stubborn and powerful. I enjoyed this greatly.
June 15, 2015
Before I begin, I will say upfront this is the first "romance" I've read, so this is SO not my genre, but I try to keep an open mind and expand my literary horizons.
That being said, this was an enjoyable read. It was very much a modern fairy tale, in a way an updated "Beauty and the Beast." You have a rich man who has been injured in a knife attack and left horribly scarred. He has shut himself and his children off from the real world, but then a new nanny comes into his life and things change for the better. The nanny has also had her life marred by tragedy, so she has empathy for situation.
What I liked about the novel was that unlike so many other romance novels with the "perfect" male protagonist you have a flawed male lead. (As I said, I haven't read many, but I know that much at least. They may be troubled and broken but they are still tall, dark and handsome and physically perfect in most cases.) Also, the fact that he had children that the heroine fell in love with added to things. It seemed to put the book on a level above everything being sexual, and instead more introspective.
In addition to the romance, there was also some suspense and the story even took a dark turn for a short time, which surprised me, but also kept things interesting.
Now, a few other things. I think that even with his scars, the male lead, Liam, was still almost too perfect. Perfect body and all, and a billionaire, which I think is way overdone. But it IS a romance novel, so I suppose the ladies need SOMETHING to grab onto, right? And the billionaire part did tie into the story, because he used his money to isolate himself for the world, which would have been hard to do without money to build the walls, both physical and metaphysical.
Also, Nerissa was just a little too head over heels for him. His voice, his body, everything about him made her blush or melt. But as I said, I don't read romance, and I guess this was a glimpse inside the head of a girl in love.
For something so outside of my usual, this was an easy read, which speaks volumes as I thought I'd be struggling to finish it just because of the genre.
If you like romance, especially clean romance, pick this one up for sure. If you like fairy tales, you'll love this one. And if you are looking for something a little different, this may be what you're looking for.
Overall a very good novel from Ms. Brocious!
That being said, this was an enjoyable read. It was very much a modern fairy tale, in a way an updated "Beauty and the Beast." You have a rich man who has been injured in a knife attack and left horribly scarred. He has shut himself and his children off from the real world, but then a new nanny comes into his life and things change for the better. The nanny has also had her life marred by tragedy, so she has empathy for situation.
What I liked about the novel was that unlike so many other romance novels with the "perfect" male protagonist you have a flawed male lead. (As I said, I haven't read many, but I know that much at least. They may be troubled and broken but they are still tall, dark and handsome and physically perfect in most cases.) Also, the fact that he had children that the heroine fell in love with added to things. It seemed to put the book on a level above everything being sexual, and instead more introspective.
In addition to the romance, there was also some suspense and the story even took a dark turn for a short time, which surprised me, but also kept things interesting.
Now, a few other things. I think that even with his scars, the male lead, Liam, was still almost too perfect. Perfect body and all, and a billionaire, which I think is way overdone. But it IS a romance novel, so I suppose the ladies need SOMETHING to grab onto, right? And the billionaire part did tie into the story, because he used his money to isolate himself for the world, which would have been hard to do without money to build the walls, both physical and metaphysical.
Also, Nerissa was just a little too head over heels for him. His voice, his body, everything about him made her blush or melt. But as I said, I don't read romance, and I guess this was a glimpse inside the head of a girl in love.
For something so outside of my usual, this was an easy read, which speaks volumes as I thought I'd be struggling to finish it just because of the genre.
If you like romance, especially clean romance, pick this one up for sure. If you like fairy tales, you'll love this one. And if you are looking for something a little different, this may be what you're looking for.
Overall a very good novel from Ms. Brocious!
October 10, 2019
Definitively one of the most beautiful stories written loosely on the idea of “Beauty and the Beast”
At times you wonder where exactly this story is taking place – there were moments when I thought it was almost historical given how the complete set up was done - but than suddenly there was a cellphone and a laptop and it was clear it was “kind of” contemporary.
Then I thought this must def. be English but noticing certain words that were used I quickly dismissed that thought – I still assume its based in the United States.
Actually it does not matter at all where or when it takes place because the story is like a fairytale not in need of explanations – the story just IS
Those thoughts were only equal part my very personal curiosity and admiration for the author – who was able to really take you away into this on sphere. The word at the tip of my tongue for this book would be “ANTICIPATION”.
This one basic and most important request/order that Liam has/gives leaves the reader with an anticipation after a while that mirrors that of Nerissa. It is so intense that it is almost like the relationship between a DOM & a SUB in a BDSM themed Novel.
But without being sexual at all. I know my words do not make that much sense if you did not read the book – so please do so.
Then when finally “IT” happens – I was left more breathless than even the hottest line in an romance novel usually managed to leave me. And there was not even a kiss involved in that second. Yes you heard correctly – Breathless – not because of a hot sex scene or a kiss – no breathless because of ONE LOOK
#TAKE THAT CHRISTIAN GREY
February 7, 2016
This book was a surprise for me. I expected to enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I did.
This is a sweet gothic romance, I was reminded of a cross between Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast, albeit with a modern twist.
I loved Rissa, even though she was almost too kind and perfect to be believed at times, the author still gave her a backbone and brains, which balanced her sweetness nicely. I loved the secondary characters and thought they were well done. Particularly the butler, whom I adored.
Liam's daughters were great, too. A lot of people don't enjoy children in romance novels, it has never bothered me, if done well, and here it is done perfectly. And Liam? Ooooh, Liam was yummy.
Completely alpha, but with this giant heart. I wanted to smack him more than once, but that only added to the tension. And the tension was superb, both sexually and and plot-wise. I raced through the last third like a mad woman.
Note, for those picky ones out there, there is a handful of formatting issues, and a smidgen of editing missteps, but they didn't detract from the story for me at all after the first couple pages.
I would highly recommend this story for all romance lovers. :)
This is a sweet gothic romance, I was reminded of a cross between Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast, albeit with a modern twist.
I loved Rissa, even though she was almost too kind and perfect to be believed at times, the author still gave her a backbone and brains, which balanced her sweetness nicely. I loved the secondary characters and thought they were well done. Particularly the butler, whom I adored.
Liam's daughters were great, too. A lot of people don't enjoy children in romance novels, it has never bothered me, if done well, and here it is done perfectly. And Liam? Ooooh, Liam was yummy.
Completely alpha, but with this giant heart. I wanted to smack him more than once, but that only added to the tension. And the tension was superb, both sexually and and plot-wise. I raced through the last third like a mad woman.
Note, for those picky ones out there, there is a handful of formatting issues, and a smidgen of editing missteps, but they didn't detract from the story for me at all after the first couple pages.
I would highly recommend this story for all romance lovers. :)
November 9, 2014
A modern take on Beauty and the Beast - sweet and charming.
Him the reclusive billionaire, that hides away in his mansion, with two adorable girls that are in need of a Nanny.
Her, beautiful, kind, and immediately smitten with her employer.
Like the Disney version, the staff of the "castle" is kind and devoted to the "beast" but secretly they are hoping Nerissa can bring Liam out of his hermitage. The uncovering of his scar (which isn't that bad compared to some others) took place at the very end, which made the story drag a little bit.
Otherwise the book was utterly charming and entertaining. A Fairytale for rainy day.
Him the reclusive billionaire, that hides away in his mansion, with two adorable girls that are in need of a Nanny.
Her, beautiful, kind, and immediately smitten with her employer.
Like the Disney version, the staff of the "castle" is kind and devoted to the "beast" but secretly they are hoping Nerissa can bring Liam out of his hermitage. The uncovering of his scar (which isn't that bad compared to some others) took place at the very end, which made the story drag a little bit.
Otherwise the book was utterly charming and entertaining. A Fairytale for rainy day.
December 21, 2014
LOVED IT
I loved this book. Such a beautiful story, I didn't want it to end. I am so proud of my niece sharing her writing and allowing everyone to realize her many talents. I didn't want it to end. Can't wait to read more of her work.
I loved this book. Such a beautiful story, I didn't want it to end. I am so proud of my niece sharing her writing and allowing everyone to realize her many talents. I didn't want it to end. Can't wait to read more of her work.
January 20, 2016
If you like fairytales this is perfect. Fun read.
September 3, 2015
A heartwarming story of love, trust and healing.
Nerissa Meadows, a cancer survivor, earns the position of nanny to Liam Byrne's two daughters, Amelia and Brianne. It wasn't long before she finds her own place in their home... and in Liam's heart. They struggle with their misplaced attraction, rendering the both of them helpless in it. Liam trusts Nerissa to look at his badly scarred face while Nerissa grapples to make it clear to him that she sees him beyond his scars... just when everything is falling into place, they find out that Nerissa's past that had been haunting her was not, in actuality, left in the past.
Sarah Brocious clearly gave a piece of her heart in this work. It's impossible not to see in this moving tale between two people whose scars run deep and how they overcome them.
I would like to give also focus on the supporting characters who played big roles in Nerissa and Liam's coming together. Nerissa's family: an overprotective brother and an overbearing mother; Liam's family: an insolent, happy-go-lucky brother and two lovable little girls. The two have excellent, fantastical relationships they have with them. Also Liam's right hand man, Stewart and the family cook, Mary.
A very engaging, great SUMMER READ.
This copy was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
* * * * *
Nerissa Meadows, a cancer survivor, earns the position of nanny to Liam Byrne's two daughters, Amelia and Brianne. It wasn't long before she finds her own place in their home... and in Liam's heart. They struggle with their misplaced attraction, rendering the both of them helpless in it. Liam trusts Nerissa to look at his badly scarred face while Nerissa grapples to make it clear to him that she sees him beyond his scars... just when everything is falling into place, they find out that Nerissa's past that had been haunting her was not, in actuality, left in the past.
Sarah Brocious clearly gave a piece of her heart in this work. It's impossible not to see in this moving tale between two people whose scars run deep and how they overcome them.
I would like to give also focus on the supporting characters who played big roles in Nerissa and Liam's coming together. Nerissa's family: an overprotective brother and an overbearing mother; Liam's family: an insolent, happy-go-lucky brother and two lovable little girls. The two have excellent, fantastical relationships they have with them. Also Liam's right hand man, Stewart and the family cook, Mary.
A very engaging, great SUMMER READ.
This copy was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
* * * * *
January 17, 2016
More than Scars is very much a character driven story. Forget the plot, this isn't about plot. this is about the growth of the characters. From the two main leads, to those that surround them, they all carry their own special personalities.
There is a bit of plot, but it really isn't central to the story. The plot focuses on two things, getting the two leads together, and a mystery that I won't really get into because it doesn't play too much until the third act.
What matters is that the two leads are both haunted, scarred in their own separate ways. This is a story about their healing. Yes the romance is at the front, but it isn't forced it's natural. Sarah Brocious allows the characters to develop their own relationship. Every now and then there will be a bit of a push from the plot to hurry up the growth, but even then it doesn't feel forced but just a bit of incentive. Don't read for the plot, but for the characters, because that is what makes this story so amazing and cheesy (I love cheesy, I shall admit it) and quirky and just fun.
There is a bit of plot, but it really isn't central to the story. The plot focuses on two things, getting the two leads together, and a mystery that I won't really get into because it doesn't play too much until the third act.
What matters is that the two leads are both haunted, scarred in their own separate ways. This is a story about their healing. Yes the romance is at the front, but it isn't forced it's natural. Sarah Brocious allows the characters to develop their own relationship. Every now and then there will be a bit of a push from the plot to hurry up the growth, but even then it doesn't feel forced but just a bit of incentive. Don't read for the plot, but for the characters, because that is what makes this story so amazing and cheesy (I love cheesy, I shall admit it) and quirky and just fun.
December 27, 2015
So sweet, so cute, so romantic!
The only thing that caused me to take off one star was the lame as hell villain, and the unending tragedy in these people's lives... I mean come on, father gets stabbed to death in front of you and then cancer on top of it? Quite unbelievable. The rest was adorable!
The only thing that caused me to take off one star was the lame as hell villain, and the unending tragedy in these people's lives... I mean come on, father gets stabbed to death in front of you and then cancer on top of it? Quite unbelievable. The rest was adorable!
October 10, 2015
She nailed it!
This is romance at its finest. All the innuendo and glances. Only this one starts out so furtively. I loved the premise and the modern day setting. So fulfilling!
This is romance at its finest. All the innuendo and glances. Only this one starts out so furtively. I loved the premise and the modern day setting. So fulfilling!
December 23, 2015
Sweet and very intriguing. I loved the beauty and the beast quality in this tale.
January 26, 2016
Amazingly sweet and so easy to get lost in this book.
January 25, 2017
Nerissa Meadows - Heroine
Liam Byrne - Hero
I love the premise, but nothing about the characters held my interest. Every time I picked it up, all I kept thinking was "la tee da".
I was in a mood for a Beauty and the Beast type plot. I was in the mood for a good fairy tale. I was disappointed.
Nerissa is hired by the hero, Liam, to watch over his two little daughters. His wife was murdered 2 years prior and during the attack, he was injured. His face and hand is scarred.
Nerissa was a teacher, but now she wants to be a nanny since she can't have children of her own. The children love her, the staff loves her, the horse that likes no one loves her. It was all so perfect. The story line was thin. No twist. Nothing shocking. Some stalker shows up out of nowhere, but even his story line was weak. Reading this story was irritating.
This needs an editor. From the beginning there were little errors that a professional editor would have easily corrected. For example "...I'm not use to making myself so vulnerable." (Loc 2%)
I loved the premise and was exciting to read this, but everything about this story was bland and predictable. It felt as if the author took a class on "how to write a story" and followed the guideline exactly. "Make the heroine like this and then make the hero say this and make sure that both characters have a tragic past that haunts them. Then out of nowhere bring up a stalker and you can call it a suspense too."
You may love this one, but it did not work for me.
Liam Byrne - Hero
I love the premise, but nothing about the characters held my interest. Every time I picked it up, all I kept thinking was "la tee da".
I was in a mood for a Beauty and the Beast type plot. I was in the mood for a good fairy tale. I was disappointed.
Nerissa is hired by the hero, Liam, to watch over his two little daughters. His wife was murdered 2 years prior and during the attack, he was injured. His face and hand is scarred.
Nerissa was a teacher, but now she wants to be a nanny since she can't have children of her own. The children love her, the staff loves her, the horse that likes no one loves her. It was all so perfect. The story line was thin. No twist. Nothing shocking. Some stalker shows up out of nowhere, but even his story line was weak. Reading this story was irritating.
This needs an editor. From the beginning there were little errors that a professional editor would have easily corrected. For example "...I'm not use to making myself so vulnerable." (Loc 2%)
I loved the premise and was exciting to read this, but everything about this story was bland and predictable. It felt as if the author took a class on "how to write a story" and followed the guideline exactly. "Make the heroine like this and then make the hero say this and make sure that both characters have a tragic past that haunts them. Then out of nowhere bring up a stalker and you can call it a suspense too."
You may love this one, but it did not work for me.
February 15, 2015
I loved this! Such a heartwarming story!! I'm a sucker for romance though too! I will say the one thing I did find a bit unsual in the book was the female character not looking at the male character, but as the book went on, and more was revealed about the man, it made more and more sense. The author did a great job describing the feeling of the male leads features by "feeling" that by the time the big reveal came, it wasn't a huge surprise for me. I love that I got the visual before the actual description came. Foreshadowing at its best. :)
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