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Pierce Family #1
Broken Beast
Danielle Bellamy is broke and out of options. Until I offer her a lifeline: A million dollars to play my wife.
Danielle Bellamy is mine.
For the next year, the curvy photographer is staying in my secluded mansion, wearing my ring.
A ruse, to exact revenge against the man who destroyed me.
Only every time I gaze into her dark eyes, I forget we're pretending.
Her kiss is intoxicating.
Her touch is addicting.
And when we finally fall into bed--
It's not enough.
I need more than her body.
I need her everything.
Danielle Bellamy is mine.
For the next year, the curvy photographer is staying in my secluded mansion, wearing my ring.
A ruse, to exact revenge against the man who destroyed me.
Only every time I gaze into her dark eyes, I forget we're pretending.
Her kiss is intoxicating.
Her touch is addicting.
And when we finally fall into bed--
It's not enough.
I need more than her body.
I need her everything.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2021
945 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Crystal Kaswell
114 books2,551 followersCrystal Kaswell is the author of the Sinful Serenade series. She writes steamy new adult romance with flawed characters. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband.
http://www.crystalkaswell.com/
https://twitter.com/CrystalKaswell
http://www.crystalkaswell.com/
https://twitter.com/CrystalKaswell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
November 20, 2021
Went downhill so quickly - read on KU
The first 30% or of this book was so good. I was drawn in from the second paragraph. The main characters meet very quickly at the beginning. There is chemistry from the beginning. Although the chemistry felt more explained than shown. Largely because Adam has such restraint before touching Danielle in any way.
Danielle has been working as a sales person at an art gallery that seems to only showcase photography. She also is a photographer and is focusing her career on nude photos and the only model she can afford is herself. She posts her photos to an anonymous Insta account that is pretty easily traced back to her (maybe not by the average Joe but by anyone with resources).
Probably eighty percent of the book is either talking about sex, nude bodies, nude photographs, body parts, or crude jokes OR them having sex. I don't mind any of those things but so much talking about nude photography as art got very, very old. She and Liam, Adam's younger brother, talk about her nudes and the possibility of him posing for her au natural ad nauseum. Danielle's brother is gay and all he talks about is sex, equipment size, and related generosity. At least with Liam, the conversation changes over to stories about Adam and other mundane things sometimes but pretty much never with her brother.
Don't get me wrong, I almost never complain there are too many sex scenes and I am not making that complaint here. I'm complaining that sex is almost the only thing talked about after a certain point very early in the book.
Even with that issue, I would have rated the book higher. What absolutely killed the book for me and made it painful to read was the story became told in one line at a time. I'm going to try to attached a blurred photo of a page from the book that shows what I mean. Sentences were short and came one at a time. At first, it was just with her brother and then almost every page was that way. I absolutely hate that writing style. It works for a particular conversation or event but only in limited use. It stops the flow of the story and makes it bog down. I think all of the sex scenes were written this way. While it seems like that would have built up the tension, it didn't. Instead, it was like throwing a wet blanket on the smolder they were trying to create. It's why the chemistry wasn't felt. One sex scene was over 10 pages long (and I read on an 11" Samsung tablet with the smallest font and margins). It wasn't that it last that long in time. There wasn't more action than normal, it was just told in 5 or 6 words at a time with much of that not even being sensual.
Outside of the Inked Hearts series and the spin off series from that one, I find Ms. Caswell's work to be very hit or miss. This was definitely a miss for me. If I had guessed at the 25% mark, I would have been sure it was going to be a 4 or 5 🌟 book, which makes it all the more disappointing. I will keep reading her books until the string of misses becomes too long, but I'm not there yet.
The first 30% or of this book was so good. I was drawn in from the second paragraph. The main characters meet very quickly at the beginning. There is chemistry from the beginning. Although the chemistry felt more explained than shown. Largely because Adam has such restraint before touching Danielle in any way.
Danielle has been working as a sales person at an art gallery that seems to only showcase photography. She also is a photographer and is focusing her career on nude photos and the only model she can afford is herself. She posts her photos to an anonymous Insta account that is pretty easily traced back to her (maybe not by the average Joe but by anyone with resources).
Probably eighty percent of the book is either talking about sex, nude bodies, nude photographs, body parts, or crude jokes OR them having sex. I don't mind any of those things but so much talking about nude photography as art got very, very old. She and Liam, Adam's younger brother, talk about her nudes and the possibility of him posing for her au natural ad nauseum. Danielle's brother is gay and all he talks about is sex, equipment size, and related generosity. At least with Liam, the conversation changes over to stories about Adam and other mundane things sometimes but pretty much never with her brother.
Don't get me wrong, I almost never complain there are too many sex scenes and I am not making that complaint here. I'm complaining that sex is almost the only thing talked about after a certain point very early in the book.
Even with that issue, I would have rated the book higher. What absolutely killed the book for me and made it painful to read was the story became told in one line at a time. I'm going to try to attached a blurred photo of a page from the book that shows what I mean. Sentences were short and came one at a time. At first, it was just with her brother and then almost every page was that way. I absolutely hate that writing style. It works for a particular conversation or event but only in limited use. It stops the flow of the story and makes it bog down. I think all of the sex scenes were written this way. While it seems like that would have built up the tension, it didn't. Instead, it was like throwing a wet blanket on the smolder they were trying to create. It's why the chemistry wasn't felt. One sex scene was over 10 pages long (and I read on an 11" Samsung tablet with the smallest font and margins). It wasn't that it last that long in time. There wasn't more action than normal, it was just told in 5 or 6 words at a time with much of that not even being sensual.
Outside of the Inked Hearts series and the spin off series from that one, I find Ms. Caswell's work to be very hit or miss. This was definitely a miss for me. If I had guessed at the 25% mark, I would have been sure it was going to be a 4 or 5 🌟 book, which makes it all the more disappointing. I will keep reading her books until the string of misses becomes too long, but I'm not there yet.
November 5, 2021
Yes yes yes! 🙌 I was excited for a new Crystal Kaswell book and once I pick it up I didn't want to put this one down. This had Pretty Woman and Beauty and the Beast vibes which I absolutely loved and mix that with forced proximity and fake dating and your in for a winner! Adam a successful wealthy business man is this broken shell of a man since the loss of his brother. He hides himself away due to the scars he sustained from the accident that killed his brother and is consumed with seeking revenge. Danielle is trying to keep things going after the death of her mum. She puts on a happy face to keep things together for her brother. Her world changes when Adam steps into her life and makes her an offer she can't refuse.
I loved these 2! They are both beautifully Broken and both have scars, physical and mental, and although they start off as total strangers there is an ease about them together and they push each other to be better and work through the pain they are in. You can't help but be sucked into Crystal's writing she has such a good way of getting her characters thoughts and feelings down on the page that draws you in and doesn't let go. I love how in depth she gets into her characters heads. I hope we are getting more from these characters I adored the family and know Crystal would deliver great stories for all of them.
I loved these 2! They are both beautifully Broken and both have scars, physical and mental, and although they start off as total strangers there is an ease about them together and they push each other to be better and work through the pain they are in. You can't help but be sucked into Crystal's writing she has such a good way of getting her characters thoughts and feelings down on the page that draws you in and doesn't let go. I love how in depth she gets into her characters heads. I hope we are getting more from these characters I adored the family and know Crystal would deliver great stories for all of them.
November 8, 2021
I loved this unique take on beauty and the beast! This story was everything I love about Crystal Kaswell’s writing it seems like it’s been a bit since I’ve read something new from this author and she didn’t disappoint!
December 23, 2021
This was an okay read. Danielle is offered money to be with Adam. We all know that in the end they get their happy ending. However, my issue is that this book just didn't work for me. I feel like it should have had more to the storyline.
November 5, 2021
Finished the book with a lot of skipping; I wanted to know the ending. It would have been a half decent read if there wasn’t so many not needed sex scenes.
November 14, 2021
The story was good but the dialogue became so confusing. Who’s turn it was to be talking took over my headspace.
May 30, 2022
I struggled with the writing style it felt a little awkward & didn’t flow for me personally
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March 11, 2025🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (7/8/2022)! 🎁
January 1, 2022
Adam Pierce wants revenge on Cole Fitzgerald for killing his brother. So he offers Danielle Bellamy, Cole’s obsession one million dollars to be his fiancé. Danielle the struggling photographer accepts thinking he just wants to keep his other brothers from worrying about him and knows nothing about his vendetta against Fitzgerald. She moves into Adam’s secluded mansion and the two become intimate. Both however have secrets from each other and their secrets threaten to destroy their relationship.
Adam was a complex serious character who valued his privacy before Danielle but with her he was lighter and more open. Danielle was an interesting strong female who loved that she had control when posting her explicit photos on her website and loved Adam Pierce fiercely despite his scars and his secrets. I liked their relationship but it was an extremely serious one and I really can’t wait to read about Adam’s brother’s Liam and Simon.
Adam was a complex serious character who valued his privacy before Danielle but with her he was lighter and more open. Danielle was an interesting strong female who loved that she had control when posting her explicit photos on her website and loved Adam Pierce fiercely despite his scars and his secrets. I liked their relationship but it was an extremely serious one and I really can’t wait to read about Adam’s brother’s Liam and Simon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2022
dnf
boring
too much "im so wet, i wanna fuck myself...im jerking off thinking of her...
too much inner boring thoughts
boring
too much "im so wet, i wanna fuck myself...im jerking off thinking of her...
too much inner boring thoughts
July 19, 2022
I hate read this book. I couldn’t get into it and yet couldn’t stop reading it. It’s a fast beauty and the beast retelling
July 10, 2022
DNF. Not my kind of book. A lot of f bombs and fixation on sex
June 19, 2022
DNF at 50%.
I loved other series by Crystal Kaswell, but this book had a different feel to it.
I love the beauty and the beast trope together with pretty woman, to me felt like it had so much potential. But I feel like the surrounding story was not executed well enough. What really put me off was despite how much Adam is grieving is brother and it's a constant serious matter in his head, there's a lot of full on conversations with his brother in his own head that have a hint of humour that didn't feel appropriate for his stage or grief? And then we have Danny's brother that has no essence to him and all he talks about is d*ck and s*x and it gets a bit tiring. Then the delayed gratification two smexy scenes in a row, made me question if it starts how it's meant to go on so I just gave up.
I loved other series by Crystal Kaswell, but this book had a different feel to it.
I love the beauty and the beast trope together with pretty woman, to me felt like it had so much potential. But I feel like the surrounding story was not executed well enough. What really put me off was despite how much Adam is grieving is brother and it's a constant serious matter in his head, there's a lot of full on conversations with his brother in his own head that have a hint of humour that didn't feel appropriate for his stage or grief? And then we have Danny's brother that has no essence to him and all he talks about is d*ck and s*x and it gets a bit tiring. Then the delayed gratification two smexy scenes in a row, made me question if it starts how it's meant to go on so I just gave up.
November 16, 2021
Not what I expected.
This book was disappointing. While the writing was good, I couldn't get into the story line. The characters were either hyperfocused on sex, or always talking about it graphically. It didn't seem very realistic and the story got lost in there. It's rare that I can't finish a book, but this one i gave up on unfortunately. The writer was very good at using descriptive words and with work I think this story could come alive.
This book was disappointing. While the writing was good, I couldn't get into the story line. The characters were either hyperfocused on sex, or always talking about it graphically. It didn't seem very realistic and the story got lost in there. It's rare that I can't finish a book, but this one i gave up on unfortunately. The writer was very good at using descriptive words and with work I think this story could come alive.
May 26, 2022
2.5⭐️ The first like 30% of this was so good but after that I was just so repetitive and there was hardly any storyline.
November 12, 2021
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Danielle hides her scars behind the scenes and has done for a long time but after the death of her mother and looking after her brother things are getting harder to keep together. The day that she meets Adam changes her world forever, this was meant to be a delivery of a portrait but what she gets is an offer that is hard to refuse and could solve everything for her, however what starts as a paid arrangement for a year becomes so much more and suddenly, she is learning that her heart won’t listen to reason. Will Danielle lose her heart to a man that doesn’t want it, and will she leave with her heart broken?
Adam has more money than he knows what to do with, but he has learnt the hard way that money isn’t everything, after an accident caused the loss of his beloved brother and hiding his scars from the world, he has been consumed with seeking revenge. His revenge comes in the form of Danielle and he makes her an offer that he knows she can’t refuse, using her against the man responsible for his heartbreak but what happens when she is the only thing that he can see and she discovers the real reasons behind his offer, he had everything, but will he be left with nothing?
This was a story and a half, and I was invested with both characters from the beginning, and I loved the beauty and the beast theme of the book. Highly recommended read 4.7* read for me.
Danielle hides her scars behind the scenes and has done for a long time but after the death of her mother and looking after her brother things are getting harder to keep together. The day that she meets Adam changes her world forever, this was meant to be a delivery of a portrait but what she gets is an offer that is hard to refuse and could solve everything for her, however what starts as a paid arrangement for a year becomes so much more and suddenly, she is learning that her heart won’t listen to reason. Will Danielle lose her heart to a man that doesn’t want it, and will she leave with her heart broken?
Adam has more money than he knows what to do with, but he has learnt the hard way that money isn’t everything, after an accident caused the loss of his beloved brother and hiding his scars from the world, he has been consumed with seeking revenge. His revenge comes in the form of Danielle and he makes her an offer that he knows she can’t refuse, using her against the man responsible for his heartbreak but what happens when she is the only thing that he can see and she discovers the real reasons behind his offer, he had everything, but will he be left with nothing?
This was a story and a half, and I was invested with both characters from the beginning, and I loved the beauty and the beast theme of the book. Highly recommended read 4.7* read for me.
November 2, 2021
Crystal Kaswell never ceases to amaze me with her writing and this book might be her best yet. She grabs your attention right at the beginning and pulls you in emotionally. A touch of Beauty and the Beast but so much more. A million dollars brings two broken and scarred people together for a year but what keeps them together after that? Adam and Danelle both have secrets and emotional scars that are slowly unveiled. The chemistry between the two is explosive. What happens when she finds out about his revenge and real reason for hiring her. A book of overcoming and dealing with grief, revenge, scars and broken souls. The characters were complex and amazing and the story line was great. I read a complimentary advance copy and voluntarily chose to write a review.
November 2, 2021
Danielle and Adam both have their own secrets and scars. They are brought together on the promise of one million dollars for a marriage and 1 year as husband and wife. The attraction and chemistry between Danielle and Adam is off the charts!! But what happens when truths are revealed and secrets exposed?
This Beauty and the Beast take of this story is emotional and very moving, bringing all the feels. Crystal Kaswell never fails to amaze me with her words, and how she is always able to tackle sensitive topics, such as grief, scars and healing with care and understanding. I highly recommend this as an absolute must read, and I cannot wait for more from the Pierce brothers.
This Beauty and the Beast take of this story is emotional and very moving, bringing all the feels. Crystal Kaswell never fails to amaze me with her words, and how she is always able to tackle sensitive topics, such as grief, scars and healing with care and understanding. I highly recommend this as an absolute must read, and I cannot wait for more from the Pierce brothers.
November 9, 2021
Spicy, steamy fairy tale with just the right amount of angst!
Danielle and Adam both have their scars. Adam's are both visible and hidden. Keeping him locked away from the world in his family estate after the accident that killed his brother, and best friend, Bash. Danielle's are more hidden but she doesn't expose them to the light, despite her exposure of her body in her erotic photography.
While looking into the man responsible for Bash's death, Adam discovers Danielle, the man's obsession and the spark who reignites his own internal fires.
Not only a riff on one of my favorite fairy tales (Beauty & the Beast), but also the whole arranged engagement/marriage shtick. But while Adam is offering her obscene (to her) money to play her part, she also can't resist his pain. It speaks to hers.
His plan for vengeance also leads to his healing because he and Danielle push each other to be more. Getting his reactions pushes her art and getting closer to Danielle pushes him outside of his safety zone. Pushes him to live again.
Both of them have siblings they adore, of whom I can't wait to learn and see more of!
This book left me so satisfied! It brought the heat with that edge of angst in just the perfect mix and amount!
I received a review copy from BookSprout. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Danielle and Adam both have their scars. Adam's are both visible and hidden. Keeping him locked away from the world in his family estate after the accident that killed his brother, and best friend, Bash. Danielle's are more hidden but she doesn't expose them to the light, despite her exposure of her body in her erotic photography.
While looking into the man responsible for Bash's death, Adam discovers Danielle, the man's obsession and the spark who reignites his own internal fires.
Not only a riff on one of my favorite fairy tales (Beauty & the Beast), but also the whole arranged engagement/marriage shtick. But while Adam is offering her obscene (to her) money to play her part, she also can't resist his pain. It speaks to hers.
His plan for vengeance also leads to his healing because he and Danielle push each other to be more. Getting his reactions pushes her art and getting closer to Danielle pushes him outside of his safety zone. Pushes him to live again.
Both of them have siblings they adore, of whom I can't wait to learn and see more of!
This book left me so satisfied! It brought the heat with that edge of angst in just the perfect mix and amount!
I received a review copy from BookSprout. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 5, 2021
What a Great story,I absolutely Loved this unique take on Beauty and The Beast.
Crystal Kaswell's Broken Beast is amazing and perfectly written to keep you turning the pages and being totally enthralled by Danielle and Adam.
What begins as a buisness arrangement,turns into something they both didn't expect,but these two broken souls are an ideal match.
They both have issues and pain left from the past,that they have to work through,the chemistry between them is undeniable though,so how can they survive a whole year being fake.
I enjoyed this story so much,I always love Crystals words and this book is no exception.
A wonderful read that I highly recommend.
5 fabulous Stars.
Crystal Kaswell's Broken Beast is amazing and perfectly written to keep you turning the pages and being totally enthralled by Danielle and Adam.
What begins as a buisness arrangement,turns into something they both didn't expect,but these two broken souls are an ideal match.
They both have issues and pain left from the past,that they have to work through,the chemistry between them is undeniable though,so how can they survive a whole year being fake.
I enjoyed this story so much,I always love Crystals words and this book is no exception.
A wonderful read that I highly recommend.
5 fabulous Stars.
November 3, 2021
She has been offered a change of a lifetime and a one million dollars just for one year of a marriage. She has many questions but she will not ask them, even though she wonders about his motives. There are just a few problems she could see is being so close to him and his blue eyes. Will she keep her heart intact? Will she find out the reason for the marriage? See just how they get on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 5, 2021
Broken Beast and his ‘Broken Beauty’. Adam and Danielle are both so broken and it makes their story intensely beautiful. Erotic and tainted, harsh scars and deep emotions, passion and fear. Somewhere along the way in Adam’s flawed plan, his revenge against one man got lost in the art, body and desire of the woman he tried to use to exact his vengence, but ended up falling in love with.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 1, 2021
4.5 stars
This might be one of my favorites by this author. I lived the characters. I devoured all of the dialogue between the characters, especially with Liam or Remy. The steam was out of this world, so much so, that it felt sensual and voyeuristic at times. It tied in well with the art.
My only complaint was how things finished in regards to Cole and what had happened with Bash. It still wasn't enough to not distract me from being 100% involved in this amazing story. I'm looking forward to Liam's story.
This might be one of my favorites by this author. I lived the characters. I devoured all of the dialogue between the characters, especially with Liam or Remy. The steam was out of this world, so much so, that it felt sensual and voyeuristic at times. It tied in well with the art.
My only complaint was how things finished in regards to Cole and what had happened with Bash. It still wasn't enough to not distract me from being 100% involved in this amazing story. I'm looking forward to Liam's story.
November 4, 2021
This story is engrossing, definitely plan to sit and let yourself be consumed. Two people who find healing in each other, scars may be seen on some but not everyone's scars are on the surface. I love the characters and how Crystal is able to weave such a beautiful story that leaves you on a high in the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 21, 2022
4.5 sizzling stars.
A beautiful exploration of love, grief and loss. Witty dialogue and well developed characters. Looking forward to reading more from this series.
A beautiful exploration of love, grief and loss. Witty dialogue and well developed characters. Looking forward to reading more from this series.
November 6, 2021
Received an ARC for an honest review. I absolutely loved it, Danielle is a strong heroine. Both she and Adam are flawed but beautiful together. I loved how she helps him feel more comfortable in his scars and loves him regardless and he stands besides her for what’s she’s passionate about without being judgmental. The story just gets you from the beginning to end. I loved it and I really hope we get Adams brothers story!
November 6, 2021
Wow! Adam & Danielle’s Beauty & The Beast-Inspired Billionaire Romance Has It All – Humor, Steam, Romance, Mystery, Great Banter, & A Sense Of Danger. Don’t Forget To Download The Free Bonus Epilogue Via The Link At The Back Of The Book!
ABOUT THE PIERCE BROTHERS:
This is the first book about the Pierce brothers. Simon, thirty-two, and Adam, twenty-nine, are the serious-minded brothers. Liam, twenty-seven, is fun-loving much like Sebastian had been. They all work at Pierce Industries, a tech company, in NYC.
The Pierce mansion, with its fairy tale aura, sits about three hours outside of NYC, far removed from society. The Pierce brothers were raised there in a life of privilege, but their wealth did nothing to insulate them from pain. Simon, Adam, Liam, and Sebastian didn’t have their mother around growing up, and they later lost their father as well. Patricia, who runs the house, did her best to manage the boys growing up and has a deep affection for them still. Since the loss of Sebastian a year ago, however, nothing has been the same.
IN THIS BOOK:
Adam Pierce, twenty-nine, is a billionaire tech mogul and the Chief Technology Officer at Pierce Industries. Women once flocked towards the tough and unyielding bachelor, though he was always more interested in work. The last relationship he had was in college; friends with benefits arrangements had proved a more practical idea for the occasional diversion. He and Simon – thirty-two – have tripled their family’s wealth since taking over. Liam – twenty-seven – helps out in finance, and Sebastian had worked for the family business as well.
Adam’s recovery from the accident was difficult, and he has the scars to prove it. Though they are healing, he still looks half monster. He has locked himself away in the mansion, away from the stares and gossip. He was the prime suspect in his brother’s death, the same accident that stole his classic good looks. A curse had begun to overtake Adam when he was just fifteen, the year his father died. He had always been serious and nerdy, but after that, it was Sebastian who was most capable of bringing out Adam’s lighter side. With his loss, Adam finds it difficult to break free of the curse. He lives as a recluse in the family home instead of his downtown penthouse. Working remotely gives him something to do, but he struggles to find a reason to overcome the loss of his youngest brother. Revenge for his beloved Bash begins to give him reason to finally move on, though he keeps his reasons close to the vest.
Danielle Bellamy, twenty-three, loves photography – nudes in particular. She is employed as an assistant to Mr. Davey, whose NYC gallery gives her the opportunity to work with some esteemed artists. She believes that good art challenges the viewer and is inspired by one artist in particular. She tries to emulate that style in her off time, though her resources are scarce, so she resorts to being her own model. Lacking the confidence to go public with her face but anxious to share her work, she started her own anonymous site – Broken Beauty – on which she posts her carefully cropped pictures. She is gaining a following and aspires to make her living as an artist one day.
Danielle’s focus for the last several years has been on Remy, her obnoxious and shameless younger brother. At twenty-one, he is a student in game design and lives life to the fullest. The loss of their mother had been difficult for Danielle, and she has the scars to prove it. Her mother’s vibrant personality embraced her Indo-Caribbean background as well as the best of NYC, and her loss was sorely felt. Danielle and Remy have only one another now, and for him, she has learned to stand strong. Making ends meet is a challenge, but she is hopeful about her future.
When Danielle hand-delivers The Voyeur, one of her favorite photographs, to the mysterious Adam Pierce, she is taken aback by his piercing eyes. They share an instant connection, but when he asks to see her again, she knows she should refuse. And when he makes her an unusual proposal, she cannot help but hope that it might lead to something more.
Adam is bent on revenge, and Danielle is his tool. He knows it is wrong but convinces himself that he can keep his hands to himself. He offers Danielle one million dollars in exchange for one year of marriage. He tells her it is to ease his brothers’ concern for him, which is partially true but leaves the rest unsaid. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but she has awoken his desire. The couple must work to prove their love for one another while shielding themselves from heartbreak. Danielle suspects there is more than Adam lets on, but he is not terribly forthcoming. As Adam and Danielle play out their agreement, laughter begins to return to Adam. Their arrangement soon begins to feel like something more, but they both have scars to overcome. The couple eventually finds a happy ending. Don’t forget to download the free bonus epilogue via the link at the back of the book.
Playboy Prince follows. It is Liam’s story.
Wow! Adam and Danielle’s beauty and the beast-inspired billionaire romance has it all. There is humor, romance, steam, mystery, great banter, and a sense of danger. Adam has been held up in his castle, the victim of a curse that has plagued his family with loss. He hates the way people look at him now, but he hates Cole Fitzgerald more. He braves the outside world again in order to get his revenge. He and Danielle are brought together by circumstance, but they find a real connection as a result. They both bear physical and emotional scars as a reminder of the past. And they both bore the loss of their parents. Remy and Liam add a lot to their story – both with vivacious personalities. They lighten the story with their humor and banter. They also contribute to a strong sense of family.
Adam and Danielle’s steamy beauty and the beast billionaire romance has fabulous banter and characters with depth. Adam is broody and mysterious, while Danielle is feisty and strong. The story is well-written. The plot is somewhat simple. The characters are multi-dimensional and complex. The banter is fantastic, but the dialogue is occasionally confusing. The speakers are sometimes hard to follow. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Adam and Danielle. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ABOUT THE PIERCE BROTHERS:
This is the first book about the Pierce brothers. Simon, thirty-two, and Adam, twenty-nine, are the serious-minded brothers. Liam, twenty-seven, is fun-loving much like Sebastian had been. They all work at Pierce Industries, a tech company, in NYC.
The Pierce mansion, with its fairy tale aura, sits about three hours outside of NYC, far removed from society. The Pierce brothers were raised there in a life of privilege, but their wealth did nothing to insulate them from pain. Simon, Adam, Liam, and Sebastian didn’t have their mother around growing up, and they later lost their father as well. Patricia, who runs the house, did her best to manage the boys growing up and has a deep affection for them still. Since the loss of Sebastian a year ago, however, nothing has been the same.
IN THIS BOOK:
Adam Pierce, twenty-nine, is a billionaire tech mogul and the Chief Technology Officer at Pierce Industries. Women once flocked towards the tough and unyielding bachelor, though he was always more interested in work. The last relationship he had was in college; friends with benefits arrangements had proved a more practical idea for the occasional diversion. He and Simon – thirty-two – have tripled their family’s wealth since taking over. Liam – twenty-seven – helps out in finance, and Sebastian had worked for the family business as well.
Adam’s recovery from the accident was difficult, and he has the scars to prove it. Though they are healing, he still looks half monster. He has locked himself away in the mansion, away from the stares and gossip. He was the prime suspect in his brother’s death, the same accident that stole his classic good looks. A curse had begun to overtake Adam when he was just fifteen, the year his father died. He had always been serious and nerdy, but after that, it was Sebastian who was most capable of bringing out Adam’s lighter side. With his loss, Adam finds it difficult to break free of the curse. He lives as a recluse in the family home instead of his downtown penthouse. Working remotely gives him something to do, but he struggles to find a reason to overcome the loss of his youngest brother. Revenge for his beloved Bash begins to give him reason to finally move on, though he keeps his reasons close to the vest.
Danielle Bellamy, twenty-three, loves photography – nudes in particular. She is employed as an assistant to Mr. Davey, whose NYC gallery gives her the opportunity to work with some esteemed artists. She believes that good art challenges the viewer and is inspired by one artist in particular. She tries to emulate that style in her off time, though her resources are scarce, so she resorts to being her own model. Lacking the confidence to go public with her face but anxious to share her work, she started her own anonymous site – Broken Beauty – on which she posts her carefully cropped pictures. She is gaining a following and aspires to make her living as an artist one day.
Danielle’s focus for the last several years has been on Remy, her obnoxious and shameless younger brother. At twenty-one, he is a student in game design and lives life to the fullest. The loss of their mother had been difficult for Danielle, and she has the scars to prove it. Her mother’s vibrant personality embraced her Indo-Caribbean background as well as the best of NYC, and her loss was sorely felt. Danielle and Remy have only one another now, and for him, she has learned to stand strong. Making ends meet is a challenge, but she is hopeful about her future.
When Danielle hand-delivers The Voyeur, one of her favorite photographs, to the mysterious Adam Pierce, she is taken aback by his piercing eyes. They share an instant connection, but when he asks to see her again, she knows she should refuse. And when he makes her an unusual proposal, she cannot help but hope that it might lead to something more.
Adam is bent on revenge, and Danielle is his tool. He knows it is wrong but convinces himself that he can keep his hands to himself. He offers Danielle one million dollars in exchange for one year of marriage. He tells her it is to ease his brothers’ concern for him, which is partially true but leaves the rest unsaid. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but she has awoken his desire. The couple must work to prove their love for one another while shielding themselves from heartbreak. Danielle suspects there is more than Adam lets on, but he is not terribly forthcoming. As Adam and Danielle play out their agreement, laughter begins to return to Adam. Their arrangement soon begins to feel like something more, but they both have scars to overcome. The couple eventually finds a happy ending. Don’t forget to download the free bonus epilogue via the link at the back of the book.
Playboy Prince follows. It is Liam’s story.
Wow! Adam and Danielle’s beauty and the beast-inspired billionaire romance has it all. There is humor, romance, steam, mystery, great banter, and a sense of danger. Adam has been held up in his castle, the victim of a curse that has plagued his family with loss. He hates the way people look at him now, but he hates Cole Fitzgerald more. He braves the outside world again in order to get his revenge. He and Danielle are brought together by circumstance, but they find a real connection as a result. They both bear physical and emotional scars as a reminder of the past. And they both bore the loss of their parents. Remy and Liam add a lot to their story – both with vivacious personalities. They lighten the story with their humor and banter. They also contribute to a strong sense of family.
Adam and Danielle’s steamy beauty and the beast billionaire romance has fabulous banter and characters with depth. Adam is broody and mysterious, while Danielle is feisty and strong. The story is well-written. The plot is somewhat simple. The characters are multi-dimensional and complex. The banter is fantastic, but the dialogue is occasionally confusing. The speakers are sometimes hard to follow. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Adam and Danielle. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 12, 2022
pacing and main lead
It was an interesting idea, the pacing was just really fast and not cool to use a WoC when the author isn’t
It was an interesting idea, the pacing was just really fast and not cool to use a WoC when the author isn’t
November 6, 2021
Broken Beast tells the love story between Adam Pierce and Danielle Bellamy and it is the first book in a new series by the author. This book gives you a dark fairy tale feel with its modern take of Beauty and the Beast and fake fiancé trope. It’s filled with angst, sadness, humor, quick banter, hot and dark scenes, and mentions of a love for coffee, gin, and spicy foods that are trademarks in all Crystal Kaswell books.
Adam Pierce is a billionaire tech mogul and dominating alpha male that has been home bound due to the accident. The accident that left his with physical reminders of that dreadful day that resulted in the death of his brother. In his efforts to manage life with his guilt and grief, he plans to avenge his brother’s death and in order to do so, he has to propose a deal with Broken Beauty and hopes that nothing gets in the way of getting what he wants.
Broken Beauty is Danielle Bellamy’s social media account name and her alter ego. To the world and her thousands of followers, she is bold, daring, and sexy just like the photos she posts of herself. But to those who know her, Danielle is an aspiring artist and photographer, who is making ends meet by working at an art gallery and is dealing with the loss of her mother and uses her photography as an outlet. She delivers a photograph to Adam Pierce’s home and that’s where Danielle fell in love with the beast named Adam Pierce and his scars- both physical and emotional.
The story of how the broken beast and the broken beauty come together takes you on a roller coaster of emotions.
Learning about the events that took place to make our main characters “broken”, you realize that they actually binding pull them together on a deeper level than they realize at first. Fueled by lust and desire in the beginning, the two are lead into a more deeper and emotional relationship that neither one expected or imagined. The two of them transform from broken individuals managing their loss of a loved one to a couple who embraces life and treasures each other deeply. Adam and Danielle’s chemistry is raw, deep, and intense which lead to some hot and steamy scenes. Get your fan and towels ready!
I have no idea if the photo set in this book are real or not, I haven’t looked it up yet but I am going to. The way Danielle feels about these photos make me wish that I could view them myself and see where her inspiration and love comes from. I don’t know much about art and/or photography, but I imagine that the artist and Danielle are very talented.
This book is part of the new Pierce Family series and I can’t wait to see what the other books in the series! I am intrigued to see what Crystal has in store for Adam and Danielle as well as Liam, Simon, and Remy. I feel like those three will have quite the stories to tell especially Liam and Remy. Those two cracked me up in this book with their similarities and their personalities. I have a feeling that quiet and reserved Simon will be the most surprising of all. I would love to know more about Sebastian “Bash” as well.
I recommend this book to those who are looking for a steamy read to curl up with. I also recommend all the other books in the author's back list. Another series that has a similar storyline is the Dirty Rich series starting with Book 1 of the series, Dirty Deal. It's my second favorite series by the author.
I received an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts on the book.
Adam Pierce is a billionaire tech mogul and dominating alpha male that has been home bound due to the accident. The accident that left his with physical reminders of that dreadful day that resulted in the death of his brother. In his efforts to manage life with his guilt and grief, he plans to avenge his brother’s death and in order to do so, he has to propose a deal with Broken Beauty and hopes that nothing gets in the way of getting what he wants.
Broken Beauty is Danielle Bellamy’s social media account name and her alter ego. To the world and her thousands of followers, she is bold, daring, and sexy just like the photos she posts of herself. But to those who know her, Danielle is an aspiring artist and photographer, who is making ends meet by working at an art gallery and is dealing with the loss of her mother and uses her photography as an outlet. She delivers a photograph to Adam Pierce’s home and that’s where Danielle fell in love with the beast named Adam Pierce and his scars- both physical and emotional.
The story of how the broken beast and the broken beauty come together takes you on a roller coaster of emotions.
Learning about the events that took place to make our main characters “broken”, you realize that they actually binding pull them together on a deeper level than they realize at first. Fueled by lust and desire in the beginning, the two are lead into a more deeper and emotional relationship that neither one expected or imagined. The two of them transform from broken individuals managing their loss of a loved one to a couple who embraces life and treasures each other deeply. Adam and Danielle’s chemistry is raw, deep, and intense which lead to some hot and steamy scenes. Get your fan and towels ready!
I have no idea if the photo set in this book are real or not, I haven’t looked it up yet but I am going to. The way Danielle feels about these photos make me wish that I could view them myself and see where her inspiration and love comes from. I don’t know much about art and/or photography, but I imagine that the artist and Danielle are very talented.
This book is part of the new Pierce Family series and I can’t wait to see what the other books in the series! I am intrigued to see what Crystal has in store for Adam and Danielle as well as Liam, Simon, and Remy. I feel like those three will have quite the stories to tell especially Liam and Remy. Those two cracked me up in this book with their similarities and their personalities. I have a feeling that quiet and reserved Simon will be the most surprising of all. I would love to know more about Sebastian “Bash” as well.
I recommend this book to those who are looking for a steamy read to curl up with. I also recommend all the other books in the author's back list. Another series that has a similar storyline is the Dirty Rich series starting with Book 1 of the series, Dirty Deal. It's my second favorite series by the author.
I received an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts on the book.
November 19, 2021
Adam Pierce is a reclusive billionaire who is driven by revenge after the accident that claimed the life of his younger brother Sebastian, his Bash and left him severe scarred on face and body. Far a long time Adam was the person of interest but he believes that Cole Fitzgerald was responsible but he doesn't have any prove, but he plans financially ruining the man once he does. Adam has locked himself away at the Pierce estate instead of his penthouse in the city doing his work. Danielle Bellamy is an assistant at New York art gallery, she loves photography especially nudes. She takes nude pictures of herself and post it to an anonymous site called Broken Beauty. She has gained quite a following. Danielle has scarred but her's is invincible. Since the death of her mom a few years ago Danny main priority has been on her taking care of her little brother Remy. It has been hard since she doesn't make a lot of money but they make due.
Danielle has caught the eye of Cole Fitzgerald he is obsessed with her and buys all her pictures. Adam thinks that he can use that to his advantage and get back at Cole, so he purchased a portrait from the gallery and paid one thousand if she could bring it to his estate. When Danny got there she was intrigued by the man and thought that he was handsome instead of the scars on his face but she could not get a read on him like she would normally do a potential client. Adam was fascinated by her beauty and for the first time since accident he was arouse. When she leaves he called her as ruse trying to buy two pictures of the one she delivered to complete the set and he would double the fee for her to bring to him. Adam makes Danielle an offer that she could not refuse one million for one to be his wife. She knew that there was more to the story but Adam wasn't divulging anymore information. The more time that these two spends they started to heal each. They had so much chemistry, banter and heat. This story was incredibly it was heart warming, with world building characters and a great storyline. It draws you in from the start and keeps you invested in the characters. It's filled with deceit, revenge, family, revelation, surprise, losses resilience and love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Danielle has caught the eye of Cole Fitzgerald he is obsessed with her and buys all her pictures. Adam thinks that he can use that to his advantage and get back at Cole, so he purchased a portrait from the gallery and paid one thousand if she could bring it to his estate. When Danny got there she was intrigued by the man and thought that he was handsome instead of the scars on his face but she could not get a read on him like she would normally do a potential client. Adam was fascinated by her beauty and for the first time since accident he was arouse. When she leaves he called her as ruse trying to buy two pictures of the one she delivered to complete the set and he would double the fee for her to bring to him. Adam makes Danielle an offer that she could not refuse one million for one to be his wife. She knew that there was more to the story but Adam wasn't divulging anymore information. The more time that these two spends they started to heal each. They had so much chemistry, banter and heat. This story was incredibly it was heart warming, with world building characters and a great storyline. It draws you in from the start and keeps you invested in the characters. It's filled with deceit, revenge, family, revelation, surprise, losses resilience and love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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