What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon a Seduction #1
Érase una vez la seducción
Tal vez Belle pudiera domar a la bestia que habitaba en su interior… Cuando Belle Chamberlain se ofreció a ocupar el lugar de su padre como su prisionera, el príncipe Adam Katsaros le propuso un trato. Con profundas cicatrices a causa del accidente en el que había fallecido su esposa, Adam se había recluido en su imponente castillo. Pero la inocente belleza de Belle podía ayudarlo a recuperar su reputación y a reclamar el trono que le pertenecía. Liberaría a su padre si ella desempeñaba el papel de su amante. Belle no podía negarse ni tampoco resistirse a su inquietante captor. La ardiente mirada de Adam despertaba en ella un deseo que no conocía y cada caricia le indicaba que era suya.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2017
101 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,178 books3,019 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Read
January 5, 2020DNF for now.
Maybe later.
Heroine's continued defense of her paparazzi papa's breaking and and entering into the hero's castle to get photos of the physically and emotionally destroyed hero annoyed me to no end. Yes, Pops has health issues, but BREAKING AND ENTERING! It's a crime everywhere! Not just fictional HP countries.
Time to step away when I let rational thought determine my enjoyment of a Harlequin HP!
Maybe later.
Heroine's continued defense of her paparazzi papa's breaking and and entering into the hero's castle to get photos of the physically and emotionally destroyed hero annoyed me to no end. Yes, Pops has health issues, but BREAKING AND ENTERING! It's a crime everywhere! Not just fictional HP countries.
Time to step away when I let rational thought determine my enjoyment of a Harlequin HP!
May 31, 2018
On page 131 I lost interest. There was so much introspection also known as naval gazing that it became boring and repetitive. I got it in the early chapters that the hero & heroine had burdens. Continuing to focus on those burdens did not move the romance forward. It felt like the hero and heroine were each other's psychologist. Boring!
I wanted more focus on the romance. Because that didn't happen by page 131, I was done with this book. I'm sad about that because I like this author's writing style & her books are normally keepers.
I wanted more focus on the romance. Because that didn't happen by page 131, I was done with this book. I'm sad about that because I like this author's writing style & her books are normally keepers.
March 30, 2022
Tale as old as the animated Disney movie
Once Upon a Seduction…
lived a reviewer who adored fantasy and fairy tales, and Presents’ fairy tales and Beauty & the Beast most of all.
I loved how the strong, emotional beginning evokes a vivid sense of place with few words. The description paints a strong visual from the first Disney Beauty and the Beast, which leaves your imagination with nothing much else to do...
The heroine is strong and has agency. It's hard to credit the author for this as the beginning sets out to mirror the movie version. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about the heroine having a boyfriend, but was happy to reserve judgement.
Evoking B&B so strongly starts to become both a blessing and a curse; it’s hard to see past the Disney animated image to the Presents’ version. I kept seeing the animated beast rather than this Prince Adam and hearing his voice. The story easily invited me in, but I think evoking it more lightly wouldn’t allow the old tale to intrude on the new. Either that or the present-day characters need to be more strongly visual to make sure the older story is merely an echo, a fairy-tale promise giving depth to the present.
Lovely: "He tasted like rage. Maybe even hatred."
Maisey Yates has a strong voice – but this other voice (song as old as rhyme) overpowers it at times. It’s difficult for her to make us pay attention to her romance when we’re sharing the story with other characters she conjured on the page.
About 1/3 of the way through, the Modern retelling starts to assert itself and I started to ‘see’ Prince Adam’s character as opposed to the original Beast’s and for Belle to become Yates’ Belle rather than Disney’s.
"She was his captive, it was true, but in some ways she was beginning to hold him captive as well."
Ungeneric emotion and conflict are at the heart of Maisey Yates' voice, and, as you'd expect from her books, there's a lot of emotional maturity delivered in a strong, accessible voice.
Writing lesson learned: when you introduce other characters from the trilogy, you have to be careful that they don’t overshadow the on-page romance as well. There’s a fine line--I discovered on my last Presents’ read--between making a character intriguing enough to want to read his or her story, and so intriguing that you’re ready to ditch this book’s hero. The introduction of Adam’s friends is done with a much lighter hand.
When Belle faces down the angry mob (paparazzi), I like how she owns the moment, how it’s twisted.
I love that there’s a transformation scene. Like the ‘angry mob’ scene, it gives a nice visual and emotional depth without intruding too much into the here and now. It too is done with a much lighter touch. I would have liked that Belle instigates it, if it wasn’t another scene where she’s strong at the expense of his Presents' alpha-beastness. The hero and heroine also lose some heroicness in their treatment of her boyfriend.
The black moment works from a Presents-driven, hero-driven point of view. The emotional pay-off is good, it’s passionate, it fits the characters, it’s worth sticking with the story for. Yet, if a flaming torch had shed more light on Yates' Belle and Adam sooner, and on some of the wobbly stepping stones in the conflict arc, I'd have felt this so much more here.
3 out of 5 enchanted rose petals for a story that's too-Beauty-&-the-Beast. Something I never thought you'd hear me say!
ARC from Harlequin via NetGalley in return for feedback
Once Upon a Seduction…
lived a reviewer who adored fantasy and fairy tales, and Presents’ fairy tales and Beauty & the Beast most of all.
I loved how the strong, emotional beginning evokes a vivid sense of place with few words. The description paints a strong visual from the first Disney Beauty and the Beast, which leaves your imagination with nothing much else to do...
The heroine is strong and has agency. It's hard to credit the author for this as the beginning sets out to mirror the movie version. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about the heroine having a boyfriend, but was happy to reserve judgement.
Evoking B&B so strongly starts to become both a blessing and a curse; it’s hard to see past the Disney animated image to the Presents’ version. I kept seeing the animated beast rather than this Prince Adam and hearing his voice. The story easily invited me in, but I think evoking it more lightly wouldn’t allow the old tale to intrude on the new. Either that or the present-day characters need to be more strongly visual to make sure the older story is merely an echo, a fairy-tale promise giving depth to the present.
Lovely: "He tasted like rage. Maybe even hatred."
Maisey Yates has a strong voice – but this other voice (song as old as rhyme) overpowers it at times. It’s difficult for her to make us pay attention to her romance when we’re sharing the story with other characters she conjured on the page.
About 1/3 of the way through, the Modern retelling starts to assert itself and I started to ‘see’ Prince Adam’s character as opposed to the original Beast’s and for Belle to become Yates’ Belle rather than Disney’s.
"She was his captive, it was true, but in some ways she was beginning to hold him captive as well."
Ungeneric emotion and conflict are at the heart of Maisey Yates' voice, and, as you'd expect from her books, there's a lot of emotional maturity delivered in a strong, accessible voice.
Writing lesson learned: when you introduce other characters from the trilogy, you have to be careful that they don’t overshadow the on-page romance as well. There’s a fine line--I discovered on my last Presents’ read--between making a character intriguing enough to want to read his or her story, and so intriguing that you’re ready to ditch this book’s hero. The introduction of Adam’s friends is done with a much lighter hand.
When Belle faces down the angry mob (paparazzi), I like how she owns the moment, how it’s twisted.
I love that there’s a transformation scene. Like the ‘angry mob’ scene, it gives a nice visual and emotional depth without intruding too much into the here and now. It too is done with a much lighter touch. I would have liked that Belle instigates it, if it wasn’t another scene where she’s strong at the expense of his Presents' alpha-beastness. The hero and heroine also lose some heroicness in their treatment of her boyfriend.
The black moment works from a Presents-driven, hero-driven point of view. The emotional pay-off is good, it’s passionate, it fits the characters, it’s worth sticking with the story for. Yet, if a flaming torch had shed more light on Yates' Belle and Adam sooner, and on some of the wobbly stepping stones in the conflict arc, I'd have felt this so much more here.
3 out of 5 enchanted rose petals for a story that's too-Beauty-&-the-Beast. Something I never thought you'd hear me say!
ARC from Harlequin via NetGalley in return for feedback
August 17, 2017
M&B take on the Beauty and the Beast (disney version) and even the characters are named Belle and Adam (cheesy alert!). Belle's father is a paparazzo who is detained by Adam for doing his job - i.e. disregarding the beast's privacy and making a quick buck from selling his photos to some sleazy tabloid. However, paparazzo dad's only interest in clicking the much disputed photos is to earn money for his treatment and so, is forgiven by his daughter - if not by the beast. Belle soon discovers his whereabouts and offers to take his place at Adam's castle. And Adam of course, agrees.
Then follows the usual modern M&B seduction routine and misgivings and procrastinations on both side. The H wants the h but will not commit (I have no idea why the modern H's have such a huge problem when it comes to making a commitment - i mean is it really that difficult?) Belle on the other hand, has a boyfriend back in the US but isn't committed enough to get physical. She and the beast do though - get physical and then it's a matter of time before one them brings up the 'M' word. Surprisingly its the h and the H decides to go along with it and have a fake but somewhat real marriage. Ultimately, Adam tries to let Belle go in a bid to 'protect' her from his darkness. But we all know how that ends right?
End of story.
Im very neutral about this book. On one hand, this book features my beloved 'beauty and the beast' trope. On the other, I just didn't enjoy this modern take on my favourite fairy tale. The characters just seemed too shallow and only half developed. Their love story also needed a little bit of tweaking in my opinion. I was underwhelmed by this one but still chose to give it three stars - only 'cause it's about beauty and her beast!
Then follows the usual modern M&B seduction routine and misgivings and procrastinations on both side. The H wants the h but will not commit (I have no idea why the modern H's have such a huge problem when it comes to making a commitment - i mean is it really that difficult?) Belle on the other hand, has a boyfriend back in the US but isn't committed enough to get physical. She and the beast do though - get physical and then it's a matter of time before one them brings up the 'M' word. Surprisingly its the h and the H decides to go along with it and have a fake but somewhat real marriage. Ultimately, Adam tries to let Belle go in a bid to 'protect' her from his darkness. But we all know how that ends right?
End of story.
Im very neutral about this book. On one hand, this book features my beloved 'beauty and the beast' trope. On the other, I just didn't enjoy this modern take on my favourite fairy tale. The characters just seemed too shallow and only half developed. Their love story also needed a little bit of tweaking in my opinion. I was underwhelmed by this one but still chose to give it three stars - only 'cause it's about beauty and her beast!
May 22, 2017
3.5 Stars
I have been in a huge beauty and the beast mood. Like I can't get enough of it, so anything that resembles a beauty and the beast theme, I'm totally reading. lol
I took a long time to write a review on this book, so it may not be that good since I'm trying to remember it as I write. I know it was cute. Girl takes her dad's place as captive and falls for the beast, but it also had a "just ok" vibe.
Belle's father is a paparazzi. He walks onto Prince Adam's land to capture pictures of Adam since he no longer leaves his house; due to a horrible accident and everyone wants a picture of the scarred beast.
Dad gets caught by Adam and thrown into his dungeon. Belle hears of this and takes off to the prince's mansion to plead for her father's life, and beg the Prince to release him. He says no, (obviously) until he comes up with a plan to gain his crown back. Adam suggest Belle become his mistress, reintroduce himself into the public with a beauty on his arms and in turn he will release her father.
Belle agrees. They somewhat get to know each other. The whole time Belle defends her dad's choice of career and sees nothing wrong with it, while hating on Adam and begging to be released.
Adam hates paparazzi because they killed his wife, unborn child and left him disfigured. So he has legitimate reasons. The whole ordeal has left Adam broken. He's a changed man who spends his life just wasting away. He doesn't care for anything, is angry and refuses to feel love again.
Again, I did like the book. The thing I may have been a little confused over or didn't really like, Belle spends most of the book hating on Adam and then before you know it boom! she's in love! Like there was no build up. She literally goes from I hate him to I love him in a page. I guess I wanted more of a flow to her falling in love with him. I also didn't like that we don't get a Epilogue, I am an epilogue snob. I need them. I don't want to read a one liner that says and "they live happily ever after" I like to read about. Know they made it with kids and stuff.
The friends they introduce have me curious so I do want to continue with them.
I have been in a huge beauty and the beast mood. Like I can't get enough of it, so anything that resembles a beauty and the beast theme, I'm totally reading. lol
I took a long time to write a review on this book, so it may not be that good since I'm trying to remember it as I write. I know it was cute. Girl takes her dad's place as captive and falls for the beast, but it also had a "just ok" vibe.
Belle's father is a paparazzi. He walks onto Prince Adam's land to capture pictures of Adam since he no longer leaves his house; due to a horrible accident and everyone wants a picture of the scarred beast.
Dad gets caught by Adam and thrown into his dungeon. Belle hears of this and takes off to the prince's mansion to plead for her father's life, and beg the Prince to release him. He says no, (obviously) until he comes up with a plan to gain his crown back. Adam suggest Belle become his mistress, reintroduce himself into the public with a beauty on his arms and in turn he will release her father.
Belle agrees. They somewhat get to know each other. The whole time Belle defends her dad's choice of career and sees nothing wrong with it, while hating on Adam and begging to be released.
Adam hates paparazzi because they killed his wife, unborn child and left him disfigured. So he has legitimate reasons. The whole ordeal has left Adam broken. He's a changed man who spends his life just wasting away. He doesn't care for anything, is angry and refuses to feel love again.
Again, I did like the book. The thing I may have been a little confused over or didn't really like, Belle spends most of the book hating on Adam and then before you know it boom! she's in love! Like there was no build up. She literally goes from I hate him to I love him in a page. I guess I wanted more of a flow to her falling in love with him. I also didn't like that we don't get a Epilogue, I am an epilogue snob. I need them. I don't want to read a one liner that says and "they live happily ever after" I like to read about. Know they made it with kids and stuff.
The friends they introduce have me curious so I do want to continue with them.
January 27, 2018
Sorry, this one did not do much for me. Both main characters were rather bland. Not enough angst, not much of anything I like in my HP reads. Too closely followed the Disney movie even down to the heroine's name. I took me several days to finish as I kept putting it down.
April 21, 2017
Adam is a man that just doesn't give up, “I like it when you say my name,” he said , his voice rough, the dark notes skimming along her skin, making her shiver. “I should like it even more if you said my name in bed.” When it came to Belle, Adam only had so much control, “had I known you were sitting in the library naked beneath your dress I could never have left you alone,” he said, each word thick with desire." I really enjoyed this book, I loved seeing Adam change from a mean beast to a mean beast that would do anything for Belle.
September 26, 2017
Good book but I could have done without all his mooning over his dead wife. But I loved the heroine.
May 19, 2017
3.5 stars
I think this is the lowest rated book that I have given for a Maisey Yates book, and I really feel bad for giving it such a low rating, but I just wasn't into it. And it's a shame because ever since I learned of it's concept for this miniseries, I was totally ready for it. In fact I couldn't wait. Sexy fairytale retellings Presents style. Yes please, but it just didn't hit my big marks with me, and I was really disappointed with it.
And the real shame of it all was this was the book I was looking forward to the most. This book was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, which is one of my favorite Disney movies all time. So I thought it was right up my ally and dug in and my expectations were huge. That was part problem I think.
Now I appreciated the adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast story, having the same elements that the origin story had with a bit of a twist. I was very impressed how she created the story and elements around one another to create the familiar story. That was the thing I most liked about it and gave props to Maisey Yates for. The story wasn't bad, and it was familiar without boring.
What I had the most problem with the story was Belle and Adam as a couple. For whatever reason, I didn't like them as a couple. To me they just fit or have natural chemistry. In fact it felt forced at times at least for me. Their whole romance just fell very flat on its face. In fact there was no real romance. The animated movie had more romance and chemistry than Adam and Belle did in this story, which is kind of funny because some of the elements were the same as were in the movie like him giving her the library and the ball. It didn't work in his book. There was no wooing, but more him trying to get her in his bed. I guess that was a type of wooing, but it was romantic, and honestly it was a turn off. He was using her for a lot of the book. True, he did make a gesture at the end, but even that didn't feel right. Something was just off between them. The chemistry was off. Yes, they had this banter between them, which could have been interpreted as sparks, but they didn't have enough sparks for my taste. Again it fell flat.
The love scenes weren't much better aside from the first one that was a foreplay scene not full blown scene. They just were really disappointing. It didn't feel like beautiful moments between them but more them getting physical releases. It wasn't sexy. It was just a let down especially her first time. I get that she was hiding the fact that he was her first, but never acknowledged at all even though claimed to know as soon as they came together. It wasn't like I wanted him to be angry about the fact she didn't tell him or kind of feeling duped by her the first time, but I did want some post coital conversation going on, instead them just falling asleep. It was almost like it wasn't a big deal, but I knew it was for her. I just didn't feel a emotional connection in those moments.
I also really didn't like that Belle cheated on her boyfriend. It left an icky taste in mouth. I get that she didn't love or want the guy and was only with him because he was a safe choice, but she was still with him when she slept with Adam. Yes, Adam prevented Belle from contacting her boyfriend and breaking up with him, but it still wasn't right. Cheating is a big no-no in my books no matter the circumstances. That's an automatic turnoff. And to witness it first hand, no. Didn't like that.
Another thing I wasn't fond of was how quickly she fell in love with him. I didn't see it coming that soon and when she came to that realization, it kind of took me back a bit. It just felt insincere and not genuine. I got that she was beginning to care for him, but love him? No. It didn't feel right in that part of her journey. And his realization of his love for her I didn't believe either. Their love felt very forced to me, and I didn't like it.
The emotional journey to this story showed promise with those deep rooted issues for both of them, but that kind of fell flat for me too. I wanted it to go deeper that it gutted me out hollow because the potential to do was there. It was good conflict especially his. I don't know what needed to happen to gut me more because it was there I just didn't feel it. In fact the whole book I was really neutral about and kind felt it was a little flat even bordering on boring. I just wanted to feel more, I wish their emotional stories did for me.
I don't know what's wrong with me. This should have blown my socks off, but it didn't. It just was flat love story with elements of the Beauty and Beast story thrown in. That was the part I liked the most, but I really didn't like Adam and Belle together. They just didn't do it for me and felt very forced in their chemistry. There wasn't a lot of romance. I wish he did more to romance and win her back. Some gesture to make her swoon and me. Plus the emotional story could have been more raw and intense, making it a more interesting story. Plus it would have made it more believable.
Or maybe I just need to read it again and get my head more into it because I have never felt this disappointed with a Maisey Yates book or a Beauty and the Beast type of story. I just wasn't into it or the couple. I know Maisey Yates has created great books, characters, and love stories with unique elements thrown in to make it feel new and fresh, but this one just didn't hit the mark. I was so surprised especially the fact that I didn't like the love story or the emotional elements to the story. I am usually gutted by Maisey, with her emotional complex stories that she is known for, but not the case for this one. I want Maisey flavor that I didn't feel here. Oh well, I guess I can't love them all, right? I am sure that this was just a fluke and Maisey will hit out of the ballpark for me next time.
I think this is the lowest rated book that I have given for a Maisey Yates book, and I really feel bad for giving it such a low rating, but I just wasn't into it. And it's a shame because ever since I learned of it's concept for this miniseries, I was totally ready for it. In fact I couldn't wait. Sexy fairytale retellings Presents style. Yes please, but it just didn't hit my big marks with me, and I was really disappointed with it.
And the real shame of it all was this was the book I was looking forward to the most. This book was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, which is one of my favorite Disney movies all time. So I thought it was right up my ally and dug in and my expectations were huge. That was part problem I think.
Now I appreciated the adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast story, having the same elements that the origin story had with a bit of a twist. I was very impressed how she created the story and elements around one another to create the familiar story. That was the thing I most liked about it and gave props to Maisey Yates for. The story wasn't bad, and it was familiar without boring.
What I had the most problem with the story was Belle and Adam as a couple. For whatever reason, I didn't like them as a couple. To me they just fit or have natural chemistry. In fact it felt forced at times at least for me. Their whole romance just fell very flat on its face. In fact there was no real romance. The animated movie had more romance and chemistry than Adam and Belle did in this story, which is kind of funny because some of the elements were the same as were in the movie like him giving her the library and the ball. It didn't work in his book. There was no wooing, but more him trying to get her in his bed. I guess that was a type of wooing, but it was romantic, and honestly it was a turn off. He was using her for a lot of the book. True, he did make a gesture at the end, but even that didn't feel right. Something was just off between them. The chemistry was off. Yes, they had this banter between them, which could have been interpreted as sparks, but they didn't have enough sparks for my taste. Again it fell flat.
The love scenes weren't much better aside from the first one that was a foreplay scene not full blown scene. They just were really disappointing. It didn't feel like beautiful moments between them but more them getting physical releases. It wasn't sexy. It was just a let down especially her first time. I get that she was hiding the fact that he was her first, but never acknowledged at all even though claimed to know as soon as they came together. It wasn't like I wanted him to be angry about the fact she didn't tell him or kind of feeling duped by her the first time, but I did want some post coital conversation going on, instead them just falling asleep. It was almost like it wasn't a big deal, but I knew it was for her. I just didn't feel a emotional connection in those moments.
I also really didn't like that Belle cheated on her boyfriend. It left an icky taste in mouth. I get that she didn't love or want the guy and was only with him because he was a safe choice, but she was still with him when she slept with Adam. Yes, Adam prevented Belle from contacting her boyfriend and breaking up with him, but it still wasn't right. Cheating is a big no-no in my books no matter the circumstances. That's an automatic turnoff. And to witness it first hand, no. Didn't like that.
Another thing I wasn't fond of was how quickly she fell in love with him. I didn't see it coming that soon and when she came to that realization, it kind of took me back a bit. It just felt insincere and not genuine. I got that she was beginning to care for him, but love him? No. It didn't feel right in that part of her journey. And his realization of his love for her I didn't believe either. Their love felt very forced to me, and I didn't like it.
The emotional journey to this story showed promise with those deep rooted issues for both of them, but that kind of fell flat for me too. I wanted it to go deeper that it gutted me out hollow because the potential to do was there. It was good conflict especially his. I don't know what needed to happen to gut me more because it was there I just didn't feel it. In fact the whole book I was really neutral about and kind felt it was a little flat even bordering on boring. I just wanted to feel more, I wish their emotional stories did for me.
I don't know what's wrong with me. This should have blown my socks off, but it didn't. It just was flat love story with elements of the Beauty and Beast story thrown in. That was the part I liked the most, but I really didn't like Adam and Belle together. They just didn't do it for me and felt very forced in their chemistry. There wasn't a lot of romance. I wish he did more to romance and win her back. Some gesture to make her swoon and me. Plus the emotional story could have been more raw and intense, making it a more interesting story. Plus it would have made it more believable.
Or maybe I just need to read it again and get my head more into it because I have never felt this disappointed with a Maisey Yates book or a Beauty and the Beast type of story. I just wasn't into it or the couple. I know Maisey Yates has created great books, characters, and love stories with unique elements thrown in to make it feel new and fresh, but this one just didn't hit the mark. I was so surprised especially the fact that I didn't like the love story or the emotional elements to the story. I am usually gutted by Maisey, with her emotional complex stories that she is known for, but not the case for this one. I want Maisey flavor that I didn't feel here. Oh well, I guess I can't love them all, right? I am sure that this was just a fluke and Maisey will hit out of the ballpark for me next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2017
I begged for an ARC of this after seeing the author talk about it on Twitter and saw it was a Beauty & The Beast theme book. I can't seem to get enough of this theme right now and this was perfect. Loved Adam and Belle and looking forward to reading the next two books in this set about Adam's friends.
April 25, 2017
Want to read a grown up fairy tale, then this book is for you. A wonderful story about the beauty Belle Chamberlain and the beast Prince Adam Katsaros. It has all us romance readers love in it. Adam is scarred from an accident in which he lost his wife and unborn son and he is hiding away so he thinks. Enter Belle Chamberlain the daughter of the reporter that Adam is holding captive as he knows he wants to post stories and photos about him. He lives in seclusion and wants no reporters near as paparazzi were responsible for the accident that took his wife. Belle offers herself in exchange as her father needs to go for medical treatment. Sounds like a fairy tale but its and amazing story, what a fantastic job Ms. Yates does on this one. Truly lovely story that you will wish never ends but then you want it to have a happy ending. Don't miss this one.
May 14, 2022
As a voracious reader, Belle has always been my favorite princess. I was excited to pick up MY Beauty and the Beast retelling. When you really think about it Disney fairy tales they are very much presents stories, just switch prince for Billionaire. Adam and Belle’s romance was very insta love and angsty (which is what we expect from the author) but what keep the story interesting was seeing how the author tied staples of the origin story to the world of Presents. Overall I liked it and interested in the rest of the trilogy.
July 24, 2020
Adam es un príncipe griego, o de por ahí, que tres años atrás quedó desfigurado en un accidente que también le arruinó la vida y lo hizo aislarse de la sociedad. El hecho fue provocado por los flashes de unos paparazzis, por lo que los odia. Al punto que, ya en la actualidad, mantiene prisionero a uno que entró al palacio a hurtadillas para fotografiarlo. A ese hombre, que prácticamente nunca veremos, viene a rescatarlo su hija Belle. Adam le propone a ella un trato, un intercambio, que su padre se vaya y ella quede en su lugar. Le servirá porque quiere volver a la sociedad para recuperar la autoridad en el principado y para eso la hará pasar por su amante (?).
Ambos tiene traumas del pasado y de ser prisionera pasará a ser otra cosas como se imaginan. Y están ahí, que si que no, etc. Varias escenas hot, en eso cumple, pero por lo demás, aburrida.
De los problemas del principado, no sé habló más.
Belle, ninguna tonta.
Un cuento de la Bella y la Bestia.
En fin, 2 estrellas para este Harlequin Bianca, que es exactamente eso.
Ah, estoy harta de la vírgenes en novelas contemporáneas.
Ambos tiene traumas del pasado y de ser prisionera pasará a ser otra cosas como se imaginan. Y están ahí, que si que no, etc. Varias escenas hot, en eso cumple, pero por lo demás, aburrida.
De los problemas del principado, no sé habló más.
Belle, ninguna tonta.
Un cuento de la Bella y la Bestia.
En fin, 2 estrellas para este Harlequin Bianca, que es exactamente eso.
Ah, estoy harta de la vírgenes en novelas contemporáneas.
April 5, 2017
I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy , looking forward to the next two later this year .
February 14, 2019
Érase Una Vez… La Seducción (Versión)
May 9, 2017
Quick Summary: This story was a modern day Beauty and the Beast. It had tragedy, heartbreak, love and redemption. It also had a happily ever after ending.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Contemporary
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
HEA: Yes
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Contemporary
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
HEA: Yes
Source: NetGalley
June 19, 2022
Ugh if ever the h was second best this book is the one that proves it.
The H is a bitter scarred man who was in a terrible accident that killed his much loved wife and unborn son. This has made him a beast in both looks and personality when our h - the beauty Belle comes to offer herself up to replace her skanky paparazzi father in this Beauty and the Beast tale.
There's allusions to Princess Diana in the H's condemnation of this type of journalism and the h's defence is pretty uncomfortable reading. The H is spot on with his reasoning on their tactics.
We never really find out the proper details of the accident other than he wanted to go to gala wife didn't paparzzi caused accident then beast mode until h shows up.
I did feel sorry for the H, he lost the love of his life and had to put up with this pretty shallow flighty h. I didn't really warm to her at all then to make us like her and root for her to win over the H aspersions were cast on the dead wife about her being promiscuous and the baby not being his (according to the press). H knew he and his wife loved each other and the baby was 100% his. I thought that was tacky ruining her character like that.
Anyway this h is second best but at least the H doesn't feel so beastly when she loved him anyway. YUCK!
The H is a bitter scarred man who was in a terrible accident that killed his much loved wife and unborn son. This has made him a beast in both looks and personality when our h - the beauty Belle comes to offer herself up to replace her skanky paparazzi father in this Beauty and the Beast tale.
There's allusions to Princess Diana in the H's condemnation of this type of journalism and the h's defence is pretty uncomfortable reading. The H is spot on with his reasoning on their tactics.
We never really find out the proper details of the accident other than he wanted to go to gala wife didn't paparzzi caused accident then beast mode until h shows up.
I did feel sorry for the H, he lost the love of his life and had to put up with this pretty shallow flighty h. I didn't really warm to her at all then to make us like her and root for her to win over the H aspersions were cast on the dead wife about her being promiscuous and the baby not being his (according to the press). H knew he and his wife loved each other and the baby was 100% his. I thought that was tacky ruining her character like that.
Anyway this h is second best but at least the H doesn't feel so beastly when she loved him anyway. YUCK!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2017
Adult romance novels are a guilty pleasure of mine. I now that there are problems with some of them and that most contain love at first sight (which I usually hate), but there's just something about these novels that is so addicting.
I enjoy romance novels where the girl is hard to get throughout at least half of the novel and it seems more realistic instead of falling for the guy the minute you see him. Does that even happen in real life, is that even possible? Also, I've noticed that the couples in many of these romance novels, can barely handle being in the same room without wanting to touch each other. I've never been in love or lust, but I don't think that's how love and attraction works. It just seems stupid when people say or act like that they can't control themselves is a good excuse, it's not, it just seems stupid. But then again, these are romance novels, so of course they are going to have this kind of stuff in them, it's just hard to tolerate them sometimes, especially when they keep repeating that stuff over and over and over.
Overall, this book was ok, not as good as I was hoping for, but I could see the similarities between the Disney movies and the stuff the author did differently, and for the most part, I enjoyed it, but some of the scenes seemed to drag on too long. I still don't think that what Belle did to her boyfriend was right, at least she acknowledged that what she did was wrong, but that still doesn't make it ok. Not to mention the fact that she cared more about being with Adam than she did about seeing if her father was ok and being with him while he's having treatments. She ended up at the castle because she wanted to save her dad, but later, she changed. The Belle in the original story and the Disney movies cared so much for her father that when she saw what was happening to him while she was at the castle and the Beast (Adam) let her go because he loved her so much, she immediately ran, whereas the Belle in here only leaves because Adam forces her too, which makes her seem selfish, like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. That annoyed and disappointed me.
I really want to read the other two books in this series even more now. But I'm still on hold for them in the library, so I have to wait. Although I think I might just buy them since I can't wait two months to read them (that's how long the holds lists are for each, 2 weeks of loan time per person).
I hope that in the end, the three girls meet each other and become friends.
I'm not sure if I will write more of my thoughts on the book later or if I'll just leave it like this.
Blog: nazishreads.net/TravelandBookBlog
My twitter account: @NazishTVDSwift
My Instagram accounts: @nazishreads, @nrcharmed01, @nrdisney, and @nazishcosplay
I enjoy romance novels where the girl is hard to get throughout at least half of the novel and it seems more realistic instead of falling for the guy the minute you see him. Does that even happen in real life, is that even possible? Also, I've noticed that the couples in many of these romance novels, can barely handle being in the same room without wanting to touch each other. I've never been in love or lust, but I don't think that's how love and attraction works. It just seems stupid when people say or act like that they can't control themselves is a good excuse, it's not, it just seems stupid. But then again, these are romance novels, so of course they are going to have this kind of stuff in them, it's just hard to tolerate them sometimes, especially when they keep repeating that stuff over and over and over.
Overall, this book was ok, not as good as I was hoping for, but I could see the similarities between the Disney movies and the stuff the author did differently, and for the most part, I enjoyed it, but some of the scenes seemed to drag on too long. I still don't think that what Belle did to her boyfriend was right, at least she acknowledged that what she did was wrong, but that still doesn't make it ok. Not to mention the fact that she cared more about being with Adam than she did about seeing if her father was ok and being with him while he's having treatments. She ended up at the castle because she wanted to save her dad, but later, she changed. The Belle in the original story and the Disney movies cared so much for her father that when she saw what was happening to him while she was at the castle and the Beast (Adam) let her go because he loved her so much, she immediately ran, whereas the Belle in here only leaves because Adam forces her too, which makes her seem selfish, like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. That annoyed and disappointed me.
I really want to read the other two books in this series even more now. But I'm still on hold for them in the library, so I have to wait. Although I think I might just buy them since I can't wait two months to read them (that's how long the holds lists are for each, 2 weeks of loan time per person).
I hope that in the end, the three girls meet each other and become friends.
I'm not sure if I will write more of my thoughts on the book later or if I'll just leave it like this.
Blog: nazishreads.net/TravelandBookBlog
My twitter account: @NazishTVDSwift
My Instagram accounts: @nazishreads, @nrcharmed01, @nrdisney, and @nazishcosplay
May 7, 2017
A real life fairy tale of 'beauty and the beast'. This beast was so tormented and in pain that the scarring that marred his male beauty was trivial. Adam's loss forced him into a darkness that seem so despairing and cruel. He punishment was self inflicting and his anger was infinite. Belle was also going the same but under a different circumstance, she saw herself in him and was able to see anfd help him heal his wounds. Belle was his 'light' and 'key' to his demeanor. A wonderful book it was filled with lots of communication between our duo. Usually, a male or female perspective are given, this book had it all.Quite refreshing,actually. Maisey Yates did a wonderful job. I am looking forward to Felipe and Rafe's stories. The Greek is out and the Spanish lover and Italian passion to look forward too.
December 13, 2019
I was really interested to read this twist on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale to see what Maisy Yates made of it and how it worked in the context of a Mills & Boon novel. I did some work on Beauty and the Beast as from the original tale written by Jeanne-Marie la Prince de Beaumont in the eighteenth-century (https://theconversation.com/beauty-an...) and from the original text, it's a clear commentary offering marriage guidance to young women of the time. However, as I note in my article, there have been lots of interpretations of the fable over the years, including the "Stockholm Syndrome" reading that Yates includes as the view of the heroine's critics. Yates's reading is very romantic and the fact that the Beast is more a prisoner of Beauty than the other way round is romantically reiterated towards the end a number of times (in fact, it really loses some of its power through repetition). So, it does work in the context of a Mills & Boon - although it's not quite the same as the traditional UK Mills & Boon. Some research has suggested that US M&Bs have quite significant cultural differences to the UK ones and I do think this shows in this novel (not that that's a bad thing, but it does slightly alter the dynamic of hero and heroine a little and the formula is a little changed). For this reason, this text didn't resonate with me as much as say a novel by Penny Jordan or Sara Craven might have done. There are some steamy scenes - some of them were a little uncomfortable as if the heroine was undergoing some kind of medical procedure and Beauty's lack of embarrassment about the intimate things that Beast subjects her to, and her constant showcasing of this, doesn't add to the romance (a Disney film this is not). This is an interesting read and I'm going to read the other two in the trilogy.
June 8, 2017
I generally love books by Maisey Yates, but this was disappointing. The story blatantly follows the plot line of Beauty and the Beast -- the main character is called Belle and she loves to read, the love interest is repeatedly referred to as Beast, Belle trades herself for her father who is being held captive by Beast, etc. It just felt silly. The dialogue was painfully emotional. The sex scenes were actually pretty good. But otherwise I'd give this book a pass. I finished it because I paid for it, but this won't be one I ever re-read.
June 22, 2017
I reviewed this book from my own personal copy with no prompt from the publisher or author.
Maisey is an auto-buy for me, and I dig all her books, but I absolutely ADORED her take on the Beauty & the Beast fairytale. Not a new premise by any means, I get that, however - she managed to make the story her own.
Belle seems wimpy and a little churlish at the start. She's taking the fall for her father, who has transgressed against The Prince of Olympios. She puts on a mask of bravado in order to face down Prince Adam - who decides Belle might be of use to him, where her father is not. Besides, the older Chamberlain is ill, and sending him home is the right thing to do.
It just so happens that Adam needs to come out of hiding, and having someone pretty on his arm will be a huge asset. Belle fits that bill perfectly. So she becomes his captive in a gilded cage.
She soon decides she'll shed the old Belle - since she's cut off from her old life anyhow - and she'll make the best of her situation. Prince Adam also becomes changed by Belle, learning that while he thinks he's a beast on the outside, he's let himself turn into a beast on the inside as well.
In this iteration of the tale, both of our lead characters have pasts that haunt them, and meeting each other was the magic spell that helped them overcome their demons. Of course, the relationship is not without stumbles along the way, and even heartbreak on both sides, but there's a HEA - as every good fairytale should do.
Again, I loved it, and it was delightful and charming - and quintessentially Maisey Yates.
P.S. Where are the unicorns?
Maisey is an auto-buy for me, and I dig all her books, but I absolutely ADORED her take on the Beauty & the Beast fairytale. Not a new premise by any means, I get that, however - she managed to make the story her own.
Belle seems wimpy and a little churlish at the start. She's taking the fall for her father, who has transgressed against The Prince of Olympios. She puts on a mask of bravado in order to face down Prince Adam - who decides Belle might be of use to him, where her father is not. Besides, the older Chamberlain is ill, and sending him home is the right thing to do.
It just so happens that Adam needs to come out of hiding, and having someone pretty on his arm will be a huge asset. Belle fits that bill perfectly. So she becomes his captive in a gilded cage.
She soon decides she'll shed the old Belle - since she's cut off from her old life anyhow - and she'll make the best of her situation. Prince Adam also becomes changed by Belle, learning that while he thinks he's a beast on the outside, he's let himself turn into a beast on the inside as well.
In this iteration of the tale, both of our lead characters have pasts that haunt them, and meeting each other was the magic spell that helped them overcome their demons. Of course, the relationship is not without stumbles along the way, and even heartbreak on both sides, but there's a HEA - as every good fairytale should do.
Again, I loved it, and it was delightful and charming - and quintessentially Maisey Yates.
P.S. Where are the unicorns?
October 1, 2018
Going into this book, I knew it was going to be a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. What I didn't expect is that the story was going to be beat-for-beat, Beauty and the Beast, gold ball gown and all.
I don't mind fairy tale re-tellings but I need the author to be at least a bit creative with the story. Because this one copied almost the entire story line, it became too predictable and boring.
I don't mind fairy tale re-tellings but I need the author to be at least a bit creative with the story. Because this one copied almost the entire story line, it became too predictable and boring.
June 3, 2017
Maisey Yates never disappoints !!!! This book is so amazing. The storyline and characters are what makes this an epic love story with a happily ever after that brought tears to my eyes.
February 4, 2018
Modern Disney’s Beauty and the Beast yet disappointingly shallow. No tension, no build, no emotional investment. 2.5 Stars.
November 16, 2018
boring...
April 22, 2019
Un completo desastre. Se pierde el hilo de la historia. Puros palos de ciego. Desde hace mucho tiempo no leo una buena historia de M. Yates.
June 9, 2017
The Prince’s Captive Virgin by Maisey Yates is a fresh take on an old favorite trope – a Beauty and the Beast themed sensual romance set on a Mediterranean island with a forgotten Prince and a woman who helps heal his broken heart .
Olympios may be small but it’s still run by royalty. For the past three years, Prince Adam Katsaros has been secluded in his castle, mourning the loss of his wife and unborn son in a car accident caused by the paparazzi. Once the toast of Europe, the tragic end to his marriage also turned the handsome and dashing Prince into a facially scarred recluse. A beast indeed, with a heart turned black with grief.
When Belle’s father, a paparazzi photographer desperate for cash to aid his medical bills attempts to take a photo of the reclusive Prince, he is captured and held prisoner. Belle comes to plead for his release and Adam makes a deal with her – he’ll let her father go if she’ll agree to pose as his mistress as he comes out of seclusion to retake his rightful place governing the country, Olympios having been run by his viceroy since the accident. Belle reluctantly agrees for the sake of her father’s health. She’s not scared off by Adam’s looks or gruff, sometimes ferocious manner. In fact, what she feels is quite the opposite, especially when she learns of the tragedy in his past. Having not had female companionship since his wife died, Adam is attracted to the beautiful woman in his home, and not just by her looks. Her feisty nature and caring attitude show him that he can turn the corner on his grief, if he’ll let her in. But will he be willing to risk his heart again?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie at http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Olympios may be small but it’s still run by royalty. For the past three years, Prince Adam Katsaros has been secluded in his castle, mourning the loss of his wife and unborn son in a car accident caused by the paparazzi. Once the toast of Europe, the tragic end to his marriage also turned the handsome and dashing Prince into a facially scarred recluse. A beast indeed, with a heart turned black with grief.
When Belle’s father, a paparazzi photographer desperate for cash to aid his medical bills attempts to take a photo of the reclusive Prince, he is captured and held prisoner. Belle comes to plead for his release and Adam makes a deal with her – he’ll let her father go if she’ll agree to pose as his mistress as he comes out of seclusion to retake his rightful place governing the country, Olympios having been run by his viceroy since the accident. Belle reluctantly agrees for the sake of her father’s health. She’s not scared off by Adam’s looks or gruff, sometimes ferocious manner. In fact, what she feels is quite the opposite, especially when she learns of the tragedy in his past. Having not had female companionship since his wife died, Adam is attracted to the beautiful woman in his home, and not just by her looks. Her feisty nature and caring attitude show him that he can turn the corner on his grief, if he’ll let her in. But will he be willing to risk his heart again?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie at http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
priority
March 13, 2018Beauty and the beast. Innocent in the beast's bed!
When Belle Chamberlain offers to take her father's place as his prisoner, Prince Adam Katsaros strikes a deal. Deeply scarred by the accident that claimed his wife, Adam isolated himself in his forbidding castle. But Belle's innocent beauty could redeem his reputation as he reclaims his throne... He'll release her father if Belle poses as his mistress!
Belle can neither deny nor resist her brooding captor! Adam's burning gaze awakens a newfound desire, and every touch brands Belle as his. His ruthlessness is legendary, unless Belle can tame the beast inside...
When Belle Chamberlain offers to take her father's place as his prisoner, Prince Adam Katsaros strikes a deal. Deeply scarred by the accident that claimed his wife, Adam isolated himself in his forbidding castle. But Belle's innocent beauty could redeem his reputation as he reclaims his throne... He'll release her father if Belle poses as his mistress!
Belle can neither deny nor resist her brooding captor! Adam's burning gaze awakens a newfound desire, and every touch brands Belle as his. His ruthlessness is legendary, unless Belle can tame the beast inside...
January 6, 2020
Hard to believe this was published 2017...
"The Prince's Captive Virgin".
A little island kingdom in Aegean Sea.
Prince Adam (wink wink) has been in a horrific traffic accident where he was disfuígured and his pregnant wife killed. Caused by the paparazzi.
Belle's (wink wink) father is a paparazzo and Belle thinks it's all right. Celebrities WANT to be photographed. If they didn't, they'd protect themselves better. If a person can walk in to your home and take photos of you, you obviously wanted that to happen, and selling these photos is "innocuous".
The prince doesn't think this is OK.
So, Belle's father flies from LA to Mediterranean, walks in to the prince's home, takes photos of him and sends them to LA. The prince is angry and arrests the guy, for breaking and entering, and violating his privacy.
Belle, a college student, studying English literature (of course), finds money somewhere to pay for a plane ticket from LA to a small island in the Aegean Sea, and comes to rescue her dad from the awful monster, because dad is obviously deadly sick and in need of treatment, and that was why he came to take photos of this prince - to earn money to pay for the treatment.
Belle doesn't understand the concept of people getting imprisoned for breaking the law, especially when she doesn't think the crime should be a crime, and the criminal is sick and her dad. No, arresting criminals is "destructive revenge".
So she suggests that the monster exchanges his prisoner to her instead. After all, her education is just a piece of paper to her, and she can easily sacrifice that to save her father's life.
Except that when the prince takes her offer she doesn't know what to do, because obviously the right thing would have been to give this entitled stupid American college student what she wants and ignore the law, so she will probably whine about how unfair it is through the book until she falls in love with the monster.
And, Belle has intimacy issues, because her mom left the family when Belle was 4. She doesn't want to become a "tempestuous, selfish creature driven by passions of flesh" like her mother, and also she is "accustomed with her space and independence". She is still a virgin (of course she is) and has had only one boyfriend in her life (the current one), and he doesn't know she is in Europe.
Apparently, the prince doesn't give a crap about law either, because he accepts her offer. She is "uncommonly beautiful", and he needs a pretty girlfriend, now when he has decided to become a real king, after having been recovering from the accident and loss of his wife and child for three years.
Anyway, just like in the movie, she is supposed to dine with him and she refuses, because "she finds him uncivilized". And continues being a total a-hole, moping about him having taken her offer, because obviously she didn't really mean anything with it.
It is interesting how common this is in different The Beauty and the Beast retellings.
NOBODY forced your dad to commit a crime. He's a prisoner because he broke the law and got caught.
NOBODY asked you to offer to switch places. What somebody is asking is for you to honor the agreement YOU proposed.
YOU should have considered your precious freedom before you so callously offered to give it away. It wasn't he who took it away, it was you who gave it away. And now you want it back. Apparently your father's life isn't worth that.
I just wished he had told her
"Miss Chamberlain. I agreed to your request - and remember it was your request - because of two reasons. Firstly, your father is ill and in need of treatment, which he and his doctors have arranged to begin soon in America. Secondly, because I need a pretty girl on my side when I make my comeback to the publicity. If you fail in this job, you will not be a sufficient replacement to your father, and I will get him back. Make no mistake about that. But if you do your job well, there will be benefits for you. If you manage to convince the world of that you love me, and not just my status and money, I will see that your father's treatment is paid and that your education is paid. If you play your part badly, I won't be playing my part either.
What comes to you being my mistress in real life, you don't need to worry. I am still very much in love with my wife your father's colleagues took from me. You are beautiful, but she was beautiful, intelligent, kind, funny, she loved me, she made me laugh and she made an unfillable impression in my bed. I will be holding you as if I loved you, kissing you as if I loved you, flirting with you and giving you gifts, the way I have treated all my previous girlfriends, in public, but in private I doubt there will even be much interaction between us, and considering your attitude, I doubt there's even any wish for that. It might be rather lonely for you, but if you are interested in reading, I have a large library, and I can see you'll get a tutor so that you won't miss much of your lessons while you are paying for your father's crime."
Oh, and she' 5'3 and he's 6'6 at least, and really muscular. A bit like Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa. So... whose that slim, undamaged, 5'6 guy in the cover?
"The Prince's Captive Virgin".
A little island kingdom in Aegean Sea.
Prince Adam (wink wink) has been in a horrific traffic accident where he was disfuígured and his pregnant wife killed. Caused by the paparazzi.
Belle's (wink wink) father is a paparazzo and Belle thinks it's all right. Celebrities WANT to be photographed. If they didn't, they'd protect themselves better. If a person can walk in to your home and take photos of you, you obviously wanted that to happen, and selling these photos is "innocuous".
The prince doesn't think this is OK.
So, Belle's father flies from LA to Mediterranean, walks in to the prince's home, takes photos of him and sends them to LA. The prince is angry and arrests the guy, for breaking and entering, and violating his privacy.
Belle, a college student, studying English literature (of course), finds money somewhere to pay for a plane ticket from LA to a small island in the Aegean Sea, and comes to rescue her dad from the awful monster, because dad is obviously deadly sick and in need of treatment, and that was why he came to take photos of this prince - to earn money to pay for the treatment.
Belle doesn't understand the concept of people getting imprisoned for breaking the law, especially when she doesn't think the crime should be a crime, and the criminal is sick and her dad. No, arresting criminals is "destructive revenge".
So she suggests that the monster exchanges his prisoner to her instead. After all, her education is just a piece of paper to her, and she can easily sacrifice that to save her father's life.
Except that when the prince takes her offer she doesn't know what to do, because obviously the right thing would have been to give this entitled stupid American college student what she wants and ignore the law, so she will probably whine about how unfair it is through the book until she falls in love with the monster.
And, Belle has intimacy issues, because her mom left the family when Belle was 4. She doesn't want to become a "tempestuous, selfish creature driven by passions of flesh" like her mother, and also she is "accustomed with her space and independence". She is still a virgin (of course she is) and has had only one boyfriend in her life (the current one), and he doesn't know she is in Europe.
Apparently, the prince doesn't give a crap about law either, because he accepts her offer. She is "uncommonly beautiful", and he needs a pretty girlfriend, now when he has decided to become a real king, after having been recovering from the accident and loss of his wife and child for three years.
Anyway, just like in the movie, she is supposed to dine with him and she refuses, because "she finds him uncivilized". And continues being a total a-hole, moping about him having taken her offer, because obviously she didn't really mean anything with it.
It is interesting how common this is in different The Beauty and the Beast retellings.
NOBODY forced your dad to commit a crime. He's a prisoner because he broke the law and got caught.
NOBODY asked you to offer to switch places. What somebody is asking is for you to honor the agreement YOU proposed.
YOU should have considered your precious freedom before you so callously offered to give it away. It wasn't he who took it away, it was you who gave it away. And now you want it back. Apparently your father's life isn't worth that.
I just wished he had told her
"Miss Chamberlain. I agreed to your request - and remember it was your request - because of two reasons. Firstly, your father is ill and in need of treatment, which he and his doctors have arranged to begin soon in America. Secondly, because I need a pretty girl on my side when I make my comeback to the publicity. If you fail in this job, you will not be a sufficient replacement to your father, and I will get him back. Make no mistake about that. But if you do your job well, there will be benefits for you. If you manage to convince the world of that you love me, and not just my status and money, I will see that your father's treatment is paid and that your education is paid. If you play your part badly, I won't be playing my part either.
What comes to you being my mistress in real life, you don't need to worry. I am still very much in love with my wife your father's colleagues took from me. You are beautiful, but she was beautiful, intelligent, kind, funny, she loved me, she made me laugh and she made an unfillable impression in my bed. I will be holding you as if I loved you, kissing you as if I loved you, flirting with you and giving you gifts, the way I have treated all my previous girlfriends, in public, but in private I doubt there will even be much interaction between us, and considering your attitude, I doubt there's even any wish for that. It might be rather lonely for you, but if you are interested in reading, I have a large library, and I can see you'll get a tutor so that you won't miss much of your lessons while you are paying for your father's crime."
Oh, and she' 5'3 and he's 6'6 at least, and really muscular. A bit like Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa. So... whose that slim, undamaged, 5'6 guy in the cover?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews