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Enchanted Tales #1
Not Your Average Beauty
Stephen Pembroke, the Marquess of Barronsfield, believes that where his love of beauty goes, death follows. Cursed to a loveless existence, and with his legacy at stake, Stephen makes a desperate proposal of marriage to Rosalind Schofield, his steward’s new ward - and the plainest girl he has ever met. Rosalind has spent a lifetime being overlooked for prettier faces. When she is singled out for her lack of beauty by the Marquess, she begins to doubt if she is deserving of the love she inwardly craves.
When unusual things start happening around her, Rosalind can’t help but wonder if Lord Barronsfield or his curse are who and what they appear to be. When she openly challenges Stephen about the curse, he begins to doubt everything – and comes to realize that this apparently plain, ordinary woman is not as unremarkable as he believed. Strange things are happening in Barronsfield. As they move closer to the truth, Rosalind unwittingly finds herself in the sights of the real beast in Barronsfield, and Stephen must decide if his growing love for Rosalind will be his salvation or her doom.
When unusual things start happening around her, Rosalind can’t help but wonder if Lord Barronsfield or his curse are who and what they appear to be. When she openly challenges Stephen about the curse, he begins to doubt everything – and comes to realize that this apparently plain, ordinary woman is not as unremarkable as he believed. Strange things are happening in Barronsfield. As they move closer to the truth, Rosalind unwittingly finds herself in the sights of the real beast in Barronsfield, and Stephen must decide if his growing love for Rosalind will be his salvation or her doom.
314 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2015
About the author
Michelle Helliwell
10 books53 followersJoin Michelle's monthly mailing list! http://www.michellehelliwell.com/join
Michelle is a sucker for hopelessly romantic stories -- the swish of heavy skirts, guys in linen shirts, and moody weather is her happy place.
She lives with her husband and two sons in Nova Scotia, Canada where moody weather and bagpipes are plentiful, but alas, guys in puffy shirts are too few.
Instagram: @mlhelliwell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michellehelliwellhis...
Michelle is a sucker for hopelessly romantic stories -- the swish of heavy skirts, guys in linen shirts, and moody weather is her happy place.
She lives with her husband and two sons in Nova Scotia, Canada where moody weather and bagpipes are plentiful, but alas, guys in puffy shirts are too few.
Instagram: @mlhelliwell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michellehelliwellhis...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 21, 2015
I loved this book, what a great debut! A Beauty and the Beast story with hints of Pride and Prejudice, and by the time I got about 2/3 through I got turning the pages faster to see how it was all going to come together. Really looking forward to the next one!
November 6, 2021
A different take on "Beauty and the Beast," with a mystery at the heart of it.
May 3, 2016
I have to start this review with the caveat that I do not read romances. They are not my thing. Due to various circumstances, though, I found myself reading this book. It has a couple of minor editorial flaws, but overall is a solid romance. If you're looking for brain candy at the beach, this is your read.
Now for the good stuff, though. Helliwell has done an excellent job of converting a fairy tale into a modern romance novel. If you like fairy tales, you're going to enjoy the weaving of those elements into this story. The historical setting is also a plus (although I always get a little irritated at them due to my feminist bent). All in all, an excellent first novel.
Now for the good stuff, though. Helliwell has done an excellent job of converting a fairy tale into a modern romance novel. If you like fairy tales, you're going to enjoy the weaving of those elements into this story. The historical setting is also a plus (although I always get a little irritated at them due to my feminist bent). All in all, an excellent first novel.
June 27, 2021
I’ll start by saying I can’t wait to read the rest in this series . This was just an enchanting book. The chemistry between the two main characters was palpable. I loved the description of the land , the attire and the characters. The twist at the end had me on the edge of my seat. It was romantic , tantalizing and exciting.
October 4, 2022
What a great story, some surprising twists, and good fun all round. I'm off to discover more stories by Michelle Helliwell.
October 23, 2017
One of my favorite tropes is Beauty and the Beast. But this was the opposite. Our hero is not the beast but a man who loves beauty but is trapped. It seems that everything he loves is turned into a tragedy and he is cursed. Stephen Pembroke, the Marquess of Barronsfield is desperate to continue his legacy by producing a heir. Afraid to marry someone beautiful, he proposes marriage to Rosalind Schofield, his steward's ward, who appears to be the plainest girl he has ever met. Much to his surprise, mysterious unusual things begin occurring around Rosalind and it seems the curse continues. This story will have you turning the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens as you fall in love with this book by Michelle Helliwell. Well done and cannot wait to read more!
September 30, 2023
By far the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast I have read, I was TOTALLY caught up in this story. Michelle has crafted a superb cast of characters, a wonderfully plausible backstory and a beautifully told love story.
Thanks to her teaser for book #2 in this series, I have found my next read and I can not wait.
Thanks to her teaser for book #2 in this series, I have found my next read and I can not wait.
July 4, 2019
This take on Beauty and the Beast has a powerful opening and escalates quickly. Not the paranormal I expected, but there's a delicate touch of mystery and Gothic notes. Rosalind is a strong and practical character, and I appreciated how she tamed the beast.
June 27, 2016
I loved this fairy tale retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. The characters were refreshing, the imagery was gorgeous and the conflict was palpable. I couldn't put down the last third of the book. I also really enjoyed the nods to the elements from the fairy tale and even the Disney movie that were sprinkled here and there.
I'm shocked that this is a debut novel, as it is so well crafted and written. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
I'm shocked that this is a debut novel, as it is so well crafted and written. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
September 16, 2017
This is the first book in the enchanted tails series. It was written by Michelle Helliwell.
"When beauty is a curse, only love can break the spell."
It is the story of Stephen Pembroke, the Marquess of Barronsfield, and Rosalind Schofield.
Rosalind comes to Yorkshire as the Marquess stewards new ward. She is the plainest girl Stephen has ever met.
He makes a desperate proposal of marriage to her in hopes that it will break the curse that has left him loveless
and with his legacy at stake. He needs a wife in order to have an heir.
Rosalind has spent her whole 27 years of life being looked over for prettier faces around her.
Now when she is singled out for her "lack of beauty", she doubts she will ever be deserving of love.
Rosalind challenges Stephen about his curse and unwittingly finds herself in the sights of the beast.
With strange things happening all around her in Barronsfield, she moves closer to the truth.
Stephen has to figure out if his growing affection for Rosalind will be the answer to his "cure" or the downfall of her.
I love this take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy-tale. I liked that Rosalind was a bookwarm and that she was free thinking.
I liked that Stephen came to realize that she wasn't as unremarkable as he first thought, and that he trusted her. I can't wait
to read the next book in the series.
"When beauty is a curse, only love can break the spell."
It is the story of Stephen Pembroke, the Marquess of Barronsfield, and Rosalind Schofield.
Rosalind comes to Yorkshire as the Marquess stewards new ward. She is the plainest girl Stephen has ever met.
He makes a desperate proposal of marriage to her in hopes that it will break the curse that has left him loveless
and with his legacy at stake. He needs a wife in order to have an heir.
Rosalind has spent her whole 27 years of life being looked over for prettier faces around her.
Now when she is singled out for her "lack of beauty", she doubts she will ever be deserving of love.
Rosalind challenges Stephen about his curse and unwittingly finds herself in the sights of the beast.
With strange things happening all around her in Barronsfield, she moves closer to the truth.
Stephen has to figure out if his growing affection for Rosalind will be the answer to his "cure" or the downfall of her.
I love this take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy-tale. I liked that Rosalind was a bookwarm and that she was free thinking.
I liked that Stephen came to realize that she wasn't as unremarkable as he first thought, and that he trusted her. I can't wait
to read the next book in the series.
November 19, 2018
I decided to take a chance on Not Your Average Beauty after seeing it at the author's booth at a local science fiction convention. I don't often take a chance on self-published books, but the covers for the Enchanted Tales series were so nice that I thought a similar amount of care must have gone into the story (fairly or unfairly, my impulse is to equate amateurish covers with amateurish writing).
After noticing numerous typos in the acknowledgments, I began to worry I had made a mistake, but luckily I only noticed one typo in the whole of the actual story, which hit all the right structural and emotional notes. The characters were both likeable: he's broody and standoffish without being a total a-hole and she's practical without coming off as a fuddy duddy. I'm a regular reader of both romance and fairy tale-with-a-twist fantasy and I can honestly say I've never seen this angle before. It's a little bit like if you crossed Beauty and the Beast with Jane Austen, and then threw Velma from Scooby Doo in there for bit of skepticism.
I really liked it, so we'll be purchasing the set for our library system. My only complaint is that 'Not Your Average Beauty' is going to be difficult for our patrons to search for. Our catalog interprets the word 'not' as a boolean operator and will therefore list every book we have EXCEPT that one.
After noticing numerous typos in the acknowledgments, I began to worry I had made a mistake, but luckily I only noticed one typo in the whole of the actual story, which hit all the right structural and emotional notes. The characters were both likeable: he's broody and standoffish without being a total a-hole and she's practical without coming off as a fuddy duddy. I'm a regular reader of both romance and fairy tale-with-a-twist fantasy and I can honestly say I've never seen this angle before. It's a little bit like if you crossed Beauty and the Beast with Jane Austen, and then threw Velma from Scooby Doo in there for bit of skepticism.
I really liked it, so we'll be purchasing the set for our library system. My only complaint is that 'Not Your Average Beauty' is going to be difficult for our patrons to search for. Our catalog interprets the word 'not' as a boolean operator and will therefore list every book we have EXCEPT that one.
October 4, 2022
This book was a take on the classic story of Beauty and the Beast. It involves a Marquess believed to be cursed and the niece of his solicitor who is determined to prove him wrong. This is Stephen and Rosalind’s story.
Stephen Pembroke truly believes a curse was placed on him years ago and everything beautiful around him is in danger of dying. He is believed to be the Beast of Barronsfield when death and destruction start to happen around him.
Rosalind Schofield is brought to Barronsfield by her a uncle who works for the Marquess. After the death of her father and living with a loveless Aunt, she welcomes starting over. She is looking forward to the future when she can take her dowry and live the life she wants.
These two people have been damaged by those around them. Neither believe in love or plan on finding it. Rosalind has believed she is plain her entire life and her first encounter with Stephen does nothing to make her feel differently. He doesn’t handle her well at first, but comes to find her beauty from within and begins to see her in a different light. I really enjoyed watching these two develop a loving relationship.
This was a good story with unexpected moments and good characters. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stephen Pembroke truly believes a curse was placed on him years ago and everything beautiful around him is in danger of dying. He is believed to be the Beast of Barronsfield when death and destruction start to happen around him.
Rosalind Schofield is brought to Barronsfield by her a uncle who works for the Marquess. After the death of her father and living with a loveless Aunt, she welcomes starting over. She is looking forward to the future when she can take her dowry and live the life she wants.
These two people have been damaged by those around them. Neither believe in love or plan on finding it. Rosalind has believed she is plain her entire life and her first encounter with Stephen does nothing to make her feel differently. He doesn’t handle her well at first, but comes to find her beauty from within and begins to see her in a different light. I really enjoyed watching these two develop a loving relationship.
This was a good story with unexpected moments and good characters. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 25, 2023
That was sooooooo awesome.
Seriously. I didn't expect this when I grabbed the kindle book for free.
It's the first book by this author for me. And not the last. If you are unsure, try it, as it's free. It's the first of 4 interconnected fairy tell "retellings" and I highly recommend at least this one.
I adored the main characters, even many of the minor ones too! It's well thought out. Tropes are used very cleverly and the writing style is very austenesque. I had so much fun and it was really exciting. Loved this take on the beauty and the beast. I must admit I caught on quite early as to the mystery. But it might also be because I inhale books like that and looooove detective books and netflix series' ☺
Seriously. I didn't expect this when I grabbed the kindle book for free.
It's the first book by this author for me. And not the last. If you are unsure, try it, as it's free. It's the first of 4 interconnected fairy tell "retellings" and I highly recommend at least this one.
I adored the main characters, even many of the minor ones too! It's well thought out. Tropes are used very cleverly and the writing style is very austenesque. I had so much fun and it was really exciting. Loved this take on the beauty and the beast. I must admit I caught on quite early as to the mystery. But it might also be because I inhale books like that and looooove detective books and netflix series' ☺
May 26, 2026
Was this a Beaty and the Beast throwback? Hmm. Yes & no. It had similarities. There was a “beast” that was cursed, but was he?? There was a damsel that fell for him but she also was a researcher that found the truth. He didn’t want to love her and she didn’t want to love him either. Stephen was surrounded by people who hated him, with only a handful of true friends. Rosalind was an orphan who only wanted a quiet solitary life that she thought she deserved due to her “plainness”. This story was filled with deception, hatred, love, steadfast friends, enemies, family drama, mystery, murder, and some suspense. I enjoyed it!!
June 3, 2020
I seem to be reading Michelle Helliwell's Enchanted Tales series backward- starting with book 4, then 3, and now 1, but with each book, I seem to be enjoying them more. So far, all her books have had parallels with Fairy Tales- this one 'The Beauty and the Beast'. As with the others in the series, when you come upon a reference to the fairy tale theme, it just seems to make you smile. As I've mentioned before, I am not a lover of Historical Romance, but as soon as I can, I will be reading the rest in this series. Thank you, Michelle, for these Adult Fairy Tales.
December 31, 2022
A winning retelling of the classic beauty and beast tale.
I adored the heroine of the story, Rosalind. Intelligent, strong-minded, quick-witted, well read, and not your average beauty.
This historical romance adventure with a mystery to solve amidst the distraction of bodice ripping noblemen is the second novel I have read by this author. Michelle's characters are so vibrant, her plots perfectly paced, and her steamy scenes delectably delightful. Looking forward to reading the next in the enchanted series.
I adored the heroine of the story, Rosalind. Intelligent, strong-minded, quick-witted, well read, and not your average beauty.
This historical romance adventure with a mystery to solve amidst the distraction of bodice ripping noblemen is the second novel I have read by this author. Michelle's characters are so vibrant, her plots perfectly paced, and her steamy scenes delectably delightful. Looking forward to reading the next in the enchanted series.
June 2, 2019
This was so satisfying!! I closed the book and just let out an elated sigh as I began replaying my favourite scenes in my head! Gave me all the feels I want from a romance!
It held my interest from the very fist page and I really liked the characters. I'm a sucker for Beauty & the Beast anyway and I wondered how this fairy tale would be adapted. Very happy to say it exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series!
It held my interest from the very fist page and I really liked the characters. I'm a sucker for Beauty & the Beast anyway and I wondered how this fairy tale would be adapted. Very happy to say it exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series!
October 14, 2019
Full disclosure: I do game with Michelle on a semi regular basis so it may bias me.
I loved this book. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling the mystery was so unexpected and I enjoyed it. I loved the Gothic elements of the beast terrorising the village. All the characters were well imagine and fleshed out. The villain is a smidge over the top but that was who he is. The nods to the Disney version are very sweet. The last third had me glued to the book I had to know what happened.
I loved this book. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling the mystery was so unexpected and I enjoyed it. I loved the Gothic elements of the beast terrorising the village. All the characters were well imagine and fleshed out. The villain is a smidge over the top but that was who he is. The nods to the Disney version are very sweet. The last third had me glued to the book I had to know what happened.
September 30, 2017
A fresh retelling of an old tale
This is an enjoyable story. The characters were engaging. Little or no spelling or grammatical errors and only a few factual errors. (A hand gun was referred to as a musket.) I like the concept that a plain girl can become beautiful to the man who loves her.
This is an enjoyable story. The characters were engaging. Little or no spelling or grammatical errors and only a few factual errors. (A hand gun was referred to as a musket.) I like the concept that a plain girl can become beautiful to the man who loves her.
April 9, 2023
This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I loved it. Great writing, amazing characters, an engaging plot, and perfect pacing held my attention from beginning to end. A few nasty characters added a little suspense to this romance. Looking forward to Edmund’s story. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2018
A definite reread!
I loved the love story between Stephen and Rosalind. Stephen was a bit annoying, but his overall character made me like him. They were each other’s perfect match.
I loved the love story between Stephen and Rosalind. Stephen was a bit annoying, but his overall character made me like him. They were each other’s perfect match.
November 8, 2020
Helliwell sets her historical romance in 1792 Yorkshire.
Stephen Pembroke is the marquis of Barronfield.
The locals accusse him of recent murders.
Twenty-eight year old Rosalind Schofield is the steward's ward.
A good blend of mystery and the trope of Beauty and the Beast.
Stephen Pembroke is the marquis of Barronfield.
The locals accusse him of recent murders.
Twenty-eight year old Rosalind Schofield is the steward's ward.
A good blend of mystery and the trope of Beauty and the Beast.
June 19, 2022
ebook
She’s come from America to live with her uncle. He’s the steward for the marquesss estate. But it’s a strange thing is happening in the village, they believe a beast is destroying things. She helps him realize that he’s being poisoned and not a beast.
She’s come from America to live with her uncle. He’s the steward for the marquesss estate. But it’s a strange thing is happening in the village, they believe a beast is destroying things. She helps him realize that he’s being poisoned and not a beast.
October 4, 2022
A very cleverly written book, with a touch of Beauty & the Beast about it. Really enjoyed the play between the two main characters, describing the interaction between them beautifully. This book is well worth reading and looking forward to the balance of the series.
March 11, 2019
This is the book that started a love affair with Historical Romance. Michelle Helliwell is an amazing author. If you enjoy historical romance, don't miss this fairy tale inspired wonder.
January 8, 2022
Such a riveting tale. I couldn’t put it down. I got so engrossed in the story that I actually felt like I was apart of the story.
June 1, 2022
Local NS author. I met her a Hal-Con and she signed my book! I look forward to reading more of her stories. I enjoyed this story muchly.
Want to Read
June 3, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/3/2022)! 🎁
August 10, 2022
deft re-telling of the fairy tale
A very Belle-like & likable heroine, a confused & tormented but handsome lord, and a clever way to resolve the problem of the Beast.
A very Belle-like & likable heroine, a confused & tormented but handsome lord, and a clever way to resolve the problem of the Beast.
February 27, 2023
great twist of beauty and the beast. I loved how she was always there for him and loved him, even when he didn't believe in himself. Always love a supportive partner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews