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Grimford #1
Until the Storm Passes
A contemporary retelling of “Beauty and the Beast”…
Isabelle Leclair only wanted to take care of her father. Unfortunately, taking care of her father means following him out into what the weather reporters were calling ‘The Storm of the Century.’ When Isabelle’s car slides off the road and wedges itself into a snow bank, she has no choice but to seek help from the illusive Fitzroy mansion, tucked away in the woods on the edge of town. Inside, she encounters Leo, a tortured man with a dark past and a scarred face, who begrudgingly lets her stay after the roads close. As they are stranded together, she grows increasingly frustrated by his secrets, including the forbidden door that she is not allowed to look behind. At least he has his own personal library for her to browse.
Leo Fitzroy was once the popular son of one of Grimford’s wealthiest men. After tragedy struck, he locked his broken body away in his mansion, staying away from the outside world that pitied him. He was used to his solitude, and he does not appreciate Isabelle’s special brand of annoyance. He wants nothing more to get her out of the house as soon as the roads are cleared. But when he learns that she likes books and 80s cult classics, he begins to realize that maybe she’s not so bad. Maybe she’ll even be the one to heal him. Except the longer that she is in his house, the closer she gets to his secret. If she finds out, it will ruin everything.
Now includes a BONUS EPILOGUE.
Isabelle Leclair only wanted to take care of her father. Unfortunately, taking care of her father means following him out into what the weather reporters were calling ‘The Storm of the Century.’ When Isabelle’s car slides off the road and wedges itself into a snow bank, she has no choice but to seek help from the illusive Fitzroy mansion, tucked away in the woods on the edge of town. Inside, she encounters Leo, a tortured man with a dark past and a scarred face, who begrudgingly lets her stay after the roads close. As they are stranded together, she grows increasingly frustrated by his secrets, including the forbidden door that she is not allowed to look behind. At least he has his own personal library for her to browse.
Leo Fitzroy was once the popular son of one of Grimford’s wealthiest men. After tragedy struck, he locked his broken body away in his mansion, staying away from the outside world that pitied him. He was used to his solitude, and he does not appreciate Isabelle’s special brand of annoyance. He wants nothing more to get her out of the house as soon as the roads are cleared. But when he learns that she likes books and 80s cult classics, he begins to realize that maybe she’s not so bad. Maybe she’ll even be the one to heal him. Except the longer that she is in his house, the closer she gets to his secret. If she finds out, it will ruin everything.
Now includes a BONUS EPILOGUE.
- GenresRomance
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2019
62 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Doherty
11 books13 followersElizabeth Doherty has always loved writing, dabbling in everything from Harry Potter fanfiction to stories surrounding inside jokes to newspaper articles about her family. During the day, she works as a middle school social studies teacher in upstate New York. She enjoys writing romance novels, reading everything she can get her hands on, watching movies, going to see all the theater she can, and dressing up as Professor McGonagall at Harry Potter events.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2022
Isabelle and Leo
Isabelle's father has left 11 messages for her and she has finally been able to get her phone charged enough she's able to hear them. She just can't believe he's gone out in the winter storm to take pictures of "his" wolves, no matter that everyone says they are not to be in their area. Now instead of enjoying a nice cup of hot coffee after getting home, since everything has closed, she is going back out to try to find him and make sure he's safe. She came back to Grimford after she graduated college and still doesn't know what the fascination with the mansion on the outskirts of town is all about, but that's where her father said he was going to ask for help. When she also gets stuck that's where she heads, hopefully she will find her father there safe. When she arrives she finds a man who is not happy to see her and tells her that her father is no longer there and to get out. She stomps back to her car and tries everything she can think of to get out, but is unsuccessful. So she goes back to the house and since he had not locked the door, she lets herself in. What happens next? Will Leo let her stay? What happens as they are snowed in together? Read this great story by Elizabeth Doherty to find out.
Isabelle's father has left 11 messages for her and she has finally been able to get her phone charged enough she's able to hear them. She just can't believe he's gone out in the winter storm to take pictures of "his" wolves, no matter that everyone says they are not to be in their area. Now instead of enjoying a nice cup of hot coffee after getting home, since everything has closed, she is going back out to try to find him and make sure he's safe. She came back to Grimford after she graduated college and still doesn't know what the fascination with the mansion on the outskirts of town is all about, but that's where her father said he was going to ask for help. When she also gets stuck that's where she heads, hopefully she will find her father there safe. When she arrives she finds a man who is not happy to see her and tells her that her father is no longer there and to get out. She stomps back to her car and tries everything she can think of to get out, but is unsuccessful. So she goes back to the house and since he had not locked the door, she lets herself in. What happens next? Will Leo let her stay? What happens as they are snowed in together? Read this great story by Elizabeth Doherty to find out.
November 20, 2022
This was one of the best retellings I’ve ever read. It’s Beauty and the Beast, but contemporary, and plays with the ‘they were snowed in together’ trope. Not quite an insta-love, this story borders on being an enemies to lovers romance. Bella and Leo aren’t fond of each other at first, but 3 days of being snowed in together forces them to confront their loneliness and the guilt they’ve been harboring.
October 6, 2021
I love a good fairytale retelling, and this did not disappoint. Isabelle and Leo are book lovers, just like probably anyone else who is reading this. 😉Leo and Isabelle have more in common than they realize, which brings understanding. I love the relationship that develops and brings out the best in each! After the epilogue, there’s a bonus epilogue! They get married. Yay!
March 15, 2020
2.5
Cliches everywhere
Cliches everywhere
January 23, 2023
At least don't involve a flower/rose...haha 🤣
Short, clean and to the point... I really like it, specially because there not sister or brothers full of themselves, just Isabella (Bella), Leo (Beast) and Bella dad in the background ♥️ ❤️ Make me laugh and cry once or twice... a keeper in my little library. ❤️
Short, clean and to the point... I really like it, specially because there not sister or brothers full of themselves, just Isabella (Bella), Leo (Beast) and Bella dad in the background ♥️ ❤️ Make me laugh and cry once or twice... a keeper in my little library. ❤️
October 3, 2020
I like the ideas in this Beauty and the Beast retelling but I found some of the humorous bits awkward. That spoiled it for me. However, if you want a light, quick, sweet romance, you can try this one.
December 9, 2021
Sweet reframing of fairytale
This contemporary clean retelling of Beauty and the Beast fixes (for me) some of the most problematic bits… this time, our heroine has more autonomy, and our beast Leo doesn’t have to be fixed. Loved the winter snowy setting!
This contemporary clean retelling of Beauty and the Beast fixes (for me) some of the most problematic bits… this time, our heroine has more autonomy, and our beast Leo doesn’t have to be fixed. Loved the winter snowy setting!
June 17, 2023
I enjoy retellings. And this one was a fun read. But a bit too predictable. As well as a tad unbelievable in a modern setting. Still, a perfect rainy day or beach read. Especially if you like fairy tale stories retold in a modern setting.
July 27, 2025
This book gave me all the cozy-gothic feels I didn’t know I was craving. The atmosphere is lush and eerie, the tension between Isabelle and Leo is addictive, and that forbidden door? I was dying to know what was behind it. A modern fairy tale with a dark heart. Loved it.
February 10, 2020
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June 23, 2021
Sweet Take on Beauty and the Beast
Cute, fast read. Nice contemporary take on the fairy tale. Ending is a bit rushed but okay for this story length.
Cute, fast read. Nice contemporary take on the fairy tale. Ending is a bit rushed but okay for this story length.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews