What do you think?
Fairy Tales #2
When Beauty Tamed the Beast
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2011)Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.
Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.
Linnet is not just any woman.
She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.
Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.
If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?
Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.
Linnet is not just any woman.
She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.
Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.
If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 25, 2011
About the author
Eloisa James
108 books9,733 followersNew York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,886 reviews
August 10, 2015
“I suppose you think I’ll fall in love with you,” he said.My favorite TV character in the whole, wide world, is this man. I adore him and his cranky ass.
“Quite likely.”
“How long do you give yourself?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Two weeks at the outside.” And then she did give him the smile—dimples, charm, sensuality and all.
He didn’t even blink. “Was that the best you’ve got?”
“Generally, that’s more than enough.”
“I suppose I should say something reassuring at this point.” He pitched his voice to a groveling apology. “It’s not me, it’s you.” Then: “Oops! Got that backwards. It’s not you, it’s me.”
This book is brilliant. It is charming. It is absolutely delightful. It is so fucking cute, seriously, and not because it is part of a series of Regencies based on fairy tales. It is humorous, it has wit, and the characters are just *in House voice* so fucking cute!
The reason I included the gif and the reference to House, MD, the TV show, is because this book is a delightful mix of Beauty and the Beast in which the "Beast" is, essentially, Dr. House. The heroine is a beauty. The beast is a cranky cripppled doctor whose man parts aren't in working order *spoiler alert: they work quite well, thank you very much*
Snort
Linnet is stunning. Gorgeous. Men faint at her feet. Women glare at her with envy. Birds sing in her presence. The sun dims next to her splendor, so on, and so forth. Only that doesn't matter one bit because Linnet is seriously fucked. Her reputation is in shreds, all because she was seen and kissed in the company of a playboy prince and then had the misfortune to 1) get sick in the morning from some bad prawns, then 2) wear a dress that made her look preggers. Those empire-waisted dresses, man. Everyone thinks there's a bun in the oven from Prince-not-so-charming, and so nobody wants to touch her with a 30-foot pole.
Enter The Duke. This Duke is fucked, too, because his son and sole heir Piers (the Beast) is not only a doctor (horror of horrors, a nobleman with a profession!) but he's horrendously mutilated, and his family jewels are no longer in working order. The Duke needs an heir. Enter Linnet who's presumably knocked-up! PROBLEM SOLVED! LINNET AND PIERS WILL MARRY EACH OTHER! The end.
Of course not.
Linnet may be beautiful, but she is neither stupid nor meek. She is not afraid to stand up to Piers, because, frankly, nobody else does.
“A barking-mad doctor—that’s me—and a wickedly conniving beauty—that’s you—limping along together in a lifetime of happiness? I hardly think so. You’ve been reading too many fairy stories.”
“Who says I can read? I can barely count, remember?”
He glanced at her and she decided, once again, to withhold the family smile. “I’m starting to think I may have been wrong about your abilities. You can probably count all the way to ten and back.”
“That just warms my heart,” she cooed.
And Piers, the fantastic, cranky asshole is just as charming as my beloved Dr. House. He suffers from the same amount of excruciating pain due to his unhealing injury. And he has pretty much the same amount of bedside manners.
“Piers looked up at him. 'You're new. What's your name?'
'Neythen, my lord.'
'Sounds like a terrible illness. No, more like a bowel problem. I'm sorry, Lord Sandys, your son has contracted neythen and won't live a month. No, no, there's nothing I can do. Sandys would have preferred hearing that to syphilis.”
This is a fairy tale, but the delightful thing about this book is that there's so much going on. There's no nauseating amount of romance, the side cast and side stories, as well as the little bits of medicine in the book - are so fun to read and follow. And did I say I love the supporting cast? I adore them! Dr. House has his own little team of doctors, and Piers has...
The door opened and Prufrock ushered in the three young doctors currently making a nuisance of themselves trying to learn medicine.KIBBLES AND BITTS! These little bits of humor in this book warms me old cockles. And then there's his cousin Sébastien, the Regency equivalent of the charming, affable Wilson. His best friend (although Piers would vehemently deny it), and the one who understands him more than he likes.
“Penders, Kibbles, and Bitts,” Piers said, nodding at each in turn. “Kibbles is the only one with working brains; Bitts is a gentleman, so there weren’t any for him to inherit. And Penders is improving, which is good because there was nowhere to go but up.
“You think you’ve suddenly developed the ability to diagnose me, of all people? You can’t even manage a simple fever.”
“I know that you have an affinity for unhappiness,” Sébastien said, tipping his glass to his lips. “In fact, paradoxically, you don’t feel truly happy unless you are unhappy. The way to do that is to push away the people who give a damn about your nasty hide. Me, for one—except that I’m impossible to dislodge, so you seem to have given up on me. Your parents.” He turned and raised his glass in the direction of Linnet. “Your utterly beautiful fiancée.
He put his glass down on the sideboard. “You and I, we’ve always been together.”
“Just break it to me gently, will you? You’re running off with a dairymaid.”
I loved this book because it wasn't too heavy on the romance...which made it all the sweeter when it finally came.
February 8, 2022
This was fun! <--for me.
It was apparently not as fun for Alex as I popped his trashy romance novel cherry. If you've never read a bodice ripper with a man who has never read a bodice ripper, you're missing out on one hell of guilty pleasure.
Here are my Top 10 favorite messages he sent to me during our buddy read:
1) It got all romance-y pretty quick, with non-dangling groins, and diving into water to gird those loins. I liked their barb-y retorts to each other, that seems to have gone out of the window. Hope it comes back when he has calmed down and stopped glaring at her marvelous breasts and dark vergina.
2) How long, in pages, til they're humping?
3) I think he's been confusing his penis with his leg. Does that make sense? Absolutely not.
4) Oh god the sex has started, and I feel like that scene in Ted 2 with all the jars of semen.
5) "she broke" might be my favourite sex euphemism, up til now.
6) There's so. much. talking. during the sex. He literally tells the story of his faulty leg during all the sexing, with his terrifyingly huge erection out there, blocking out the fucking sun. His hand shoved up her, wearing her like a sock puppet.
7) Weirdest thing is, I keep seeing Piers as the Beast from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, but with a "pulsing" cock. It's complicating my reading pleasure.
8) Also, that it's based on House is just so perfectly groanworthy. It's so obvious, now you've said it, and it's terrible. It must be destroyed. Killed with fire!
9) “Love you,” she breathed, eyes meeting his.
“Then live for me,” he said, bending over her, his voice fierce as a hawk’s cry. “Live.”
10) I've finished. I will never speak to you ever again.
Worth it.
But who cares about him? The important thing is what did I think about this.
I have a love/hate relationship with Beauty and the Beast retellings, simply because they have a tendency to be squicky. <--I've read several where the Beast stays an animal, and let me tell you, I am not ok with that.
Thankfully, this was not that. You just have a grumpy beast of a guy who ends up engaged to a beauty because she got herself into a bit of a scrape through no fault of her own.
She shared a few smooches with a prince and wore an unflattering dress that made her look preggers. <--we've all been there, haven't we?
Now, pay no attention to my buddy read partner, I thought this was a cute story. And I'm not some superfan of the House tv show that this guy was supposedly based on. In fact, I don't remember having ever watched an entire episode of it, though I do know that the show was about a grumpy doctor with no people skills and a bum leg. And since this guy was a grumpy doctor with no people skills and with a bum leg, I'm going to go ahead and say they match.
My sourpuss buddy-reader and I did both agree that the ending wherein the heroine was covered from head to toe with some sort of fever-scabs and then sloughed clean and pink by the hero was unintentionally hilarious. Was that supposed to be romantic? If so, it was one of those rather humorous fails. It managed to be simultaneously gross (have you ever seen a scab come off?) and incredibly unrealistic in terms of a romantic moment for a couple.
I mean, I'd be really grateful to be rid of the scabs and find out that I'm not completely scarred up under them, but nothing about that scenario would get my clam moist. Plus, you know some of that scabby stuff was still clinging on to her skin! Reading about him rubbing the crust off of her tits was not a high point of the book for me.
But!
This was an otherwise adorable tale of a beauty and her beast.
Highly recommended for fans of the ripping bodice, romantic fairytale retellings, and the House tv show.
It was apparently not as fun for Alex as I popped his trashy romance novel cherry. If you've never read a bodice ripper with a man who has never read a bodice ripper, you're missing out on one hell of guilty pleasure.
Here are my Top 10 favorite messages he sent to me during our buddy read:
1) It got all romance-y pretty quick, with non-dangling groins, and diving into water to gird those loins. I liked their barb-y retorts to each other, that seems to have gone out of the window. Hope it comes back when he has calmed down and stopped glaring at her marvelous breasts and dark vergina.
2) How long, in pages, til they're humping?
3) I think he's been confusing his penis with his leg. Does that make sense? Absolutely not.
4) Oh god the sex has started, and I feel like that scene in Ted 2 with all the jars of semen.
5) "she broke" might be my favourite sex euphemism, up til now.
6) There's so. much. talking. during the sex. He literally tells the story of his faulty leg during all the sexing, with his terrifyingly huge erection out there, blocking out the fucking sun. His hand shoved up her, wearing her like a sock puppet.
7) Weirdest thing is, I keep seeing Piers as the Beast from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, but with a "pulsing" cock. It's complicating my reading pleasure.
8) Also, that it's based on House is just so perfectly groanworthy. It's so obvious, now you've said it, and it's terrible. It must be destroyed. Killed with fire!
9) “Love you,” she breathed, eyes meeting his.
“Then live for me,” he said, bending over her, his voice fierce as a hawk’s cry. “Live.”
10) I've finished. I will never speak to you ever again.
Worth it.
But who cares about him? The important thing is what did I think about this.
I have a love/hate relationship with Beauty and the Beast retellings, simply because they have a tendency to be squicky. <--I've read several where the Beast stays an animal, and let me tell you, I am not ok with that.
Thankfully, this was not that. You just have a grumpy beast of a guy who ends up engaged to a beauty because she got herself into a bit of a scrape through no fault of her own.
She shared a few smooches with a prince and wore an unflattering dress that made her look preggers. <--we've all been there, haven't we?
Now, pay no attention to my buddy read partner, I thought this was a cute story. And I'm not some superfan of the House tv show that this guy was supposedly based on. In fact, I don't remember having ever watched an entire episode of it, though I do know that the show was about a grumpy doctor with no people skills and a bum leg. And since this guy was a grumpy doctor with no people skills and with a bum leg, I'm going to go ahead and say they match.
My sourpuss buddy-reader and I did both agree that the ending wherein the heroine was covered from head to toe with some sort of fever-scabs and then sloughed clean and pink by the hero was unintentionally hilarious. Was that supposed to be romantic? If so, it was one of those rather humorous fails. It managed to be simultaneously gross (have you ever seen a scab come off?) and incredibly unrealistic in terms of a romantic moment for a couple.
I mean, I'd be really grateful to be rid of the scabs and find out that I'm not completely scarred up under them, but nothing about that scenario would get my clam moist. Plus, you know some of that scabby stuff was still clinging on to her skin! Reading about him rubbing the crust off of her tits was not a high point of the book for me.
But!
This was an otherwise adorable tale of a beauty and her beast.
Highly recommended for fans of the ripping bodice, romantic fairytale retellings, and the House tv show.
January 30, 2018
When Beauty Tamed the Beast was an okay read for me. I enjoyed the audio version but I didn't really care much for the hero or heroine. There was just something about both of them that was off putting to me. I didn't connect to them and in turn didn't connect to their love story. It wasn't a bad read it just didn't do it for me!
August 29, 2010
Just what the doctor ordered!
I’m a big fan of historical romance novels, but admittedly the genre can become a bit tedious due to storylines and characters who are confined to the particular roles and behaviors of their era. I’ve read just about every kind of historical romance, from those of the light and fluffy variety to those that leave my emotions in a tattered mess. Well, I’m happy to say that When Beauty Tamed the Beast struck a perfect balance of both, and was an absolute pleasure to read. It wasn’t an angsty story at all, and I found myself constantly smiling and frequently even laughing out loud at their ridiculous banter. The dialog throughout the book was priceless with such sarcasm and dry humor that I just couldn’t wait for the next confrontation to take place. And while it was a very funny read, my heart ached for both Piers and Linnet and the internal battles they both fought.
At first, I couldn’t put my finger on what it was that was so appealing about our hero, Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant. He’s a gruff, offensive, belligerent doctor whose bedside manner could leave one contemplating the upside of death. Add to this that he’s not known for being stunningly handsome and I have to ask myself why I was so drawn to him. His no nonsense approach at telling patients they were going to die seemed so callous, and yet, oddly funny. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but I just couldn’t quite decide what that was. Then one of my Goodreads friends asked me if I recognized the similarities between Piers and Dr. Gregory House of the popular television show, House, who I happen to adore. Of course! Why didn’t I recognize it? Maybe it was because I haven’t watched the last couple seasons of the show because Dr. House, as a character, seemed to move away from the man I had come to adore in the earlier seasons. Piers, on the other hand, is exactly what had me falling in love with Gregory House in the first place.
Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a beauty who hasn’t been ruined by it. It’s odd, because she knows she’s beautiful because everyone says she is, but it doesn’t seem to matter much to her. Well, not until she faces the possibility of losing her looks. I really enjoyed her as a heroine, and she’s the perfect match for Piers, who needs someone he can’t trample with his cutting words and offensive manners. She’s strong, independent, and every bit as smart as Dr. House’s counterpart, Dr. Lisa Cuddy. Yes indeed, Piers and Linnet are a perfect match!
Now, before you get all offended that Ms. James might try to secretly copy this popular television show, there’s something you need to know; she didn’t do it secretly at all. There’s an author’s note at the end of the book in which she comes right out and states that the character, Dr. Gregory House and the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital greatly influenced her story. But all that said, Ms. James did an incredible job of making Piers unique. In fact, maybe he really did exist and Dr. House developed his technique based on Piers’ work! ;)
When Beauty Tamed the Beast is a great second installment to the fairy tale inspired Happily Ever Afters series, but can be read as a stand alone novel as the only connection to the previous books is that they are fairy tale themed. There is no character or plot overlapping. Yes, this was just what the doctor ordered! It was fresh, passionate, funny, sexy as all get-out and an absolute delight to read!
August 2, 2018
Beauty and the Beast if the Beast was House M.D., and Beauty was hilariously snarky. I totally loved this!
Even better than this retelling. It was a close race.
"Beauty" is Linnet. She gets ruined by a prince because she wears an unfortunate dress that makes her look preggers. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, according to the ton, she is done. Her only choice is to marry a Duke, who is a brilliant doctor, and is nicknamed the Beast. He is supposedly impotent, so her fake little princely bun in the oven is her ticket to a nice sham of a marriage. It's perfect!
It sure helps.
"Beast" is Piers. He's hilariously grouchy and brilliant and an asshole. His caustic, condescending manner makes people cower before him.
But, he meets his match with Linnet. She can dish it out just as well as him, and she's not scared in the least bit.
Sébastien brought Linnet over. “I thought perhaps you didn’t notice that your fiancée had entered the room.”
“Good evening, fiancée.”
“Beelzebub,” she said, inclining her head.
Linnet feels completely comfortable with Piers because she knows that he is impotent, so she doesn't have to worry about him trying any funny business. She goes swimming with him, and it's just a good thing that this girl is as innocent and clueless as she is because, if not, the jig would be up. ahem.
“You know?" She glanced at him, and a little flare of color rose in her cheeks.
"What?" He said, rearranging himself discreetly and then rewrapping the towel more tightly.
"You're going to laugh, being a doctor and all, but my mother said something once..."
"What?"
"She told me once that men hung."
"Hung?" he repeated.
"Hung," she said giggling again. "In front. You don't hang, do you" She waved a hand in the general vicinity of his waist. "You don't mind me saying, that, do you? I formed this disgusting vision of--of a hanging thing and--well, you don't hang at all. You stand straight up."
He burst out laughing.
"I know," she said laughing too. "I'm a fool."
Well. okay then.
anyway.
Piers has no intention of marrying Linnet, even though they are perfect for each other. That seems to be a theme in this series so far, so it looks like our HEA may not happen. But, hey, it IS a fairy tale.
"If I were to marry anyone, Linnet, it would be you."
"I always knew these breasts would come in handy," she said with satisfaction.
(It's not like they are comfortable to own or house. They gotta give us something back for our troubles, right girls?)
The humor in this book is awesome! I LOVED this couple because they were perfect for each other. Beast is the best beast in any retelling ever. He was hilarious. The banter between them was great. And, again, the side characters were so good that I'm going to look for the half-book novellas that have their stories. All in all - totally fun.
Even better than this retelling. It was a close race.
"Beauty" is Linnet. She gets ruined by a prince because she wears an unfortunate dress that makes her look preggers. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, according to the ton, she is done. Her only choice is to marry a Duke, who is a brilliant doctor, and is nicknamed the Beast. He is supposedly impotent, so her fake little princely bun in the oven is her ticket to a nice sham of a marriage. It's perfect!
It sure helps.
"Beast" is Piers. He's hilariously grouchy and brilliant and an asshole. His caustic, condescending manner makes people cower before him.
But, he meets his match with Linnet. She can dish it out just as well as him, and she's not scared in the least bit.
Sébastien brought Linnet over. “I thought perhaps you didn’t notice that your fiancée had entered the room.”
“Good evening, fiancée.”
“Beelzebub,” she said, inclining her head.
Linnet feels completely comfortable with Piers because she knows that he is impotent, so she doesn't have to worry about him trying any funny business. She goes swimming with him, and it's just a good thing that this girl is as innocent and clueless as she is because, if not, the jig would be up. ahem.
“You know?" She glanced at him, and a little flare of color rose in her cheeks.
"What?" He said, rearranging himself discreetly and then rewrapping the towel more tightly.
"You're going to laugh, being a doctor and all, but my mother said something once..."
"What?"
"She told me once that men hung."
"Hung?" he repeated.
"Hung," she said giggling again. "In front. You don't hang, do you" She waved a hand in the general vicinity of his waist. "You don't mind me saying, that, do you? I formed this disgusting vision of--of a hanging thing and--well, you don't hang at all. You stand straight up."
He burst out laughing.
"I know," she said laughing too. "I'm a fool."
Well. okay then.
anyway.
Piers has no intention of marrying Linnet, even though they are perfect for each other. That seems to be a theme in this series so far, so it looks like our HEA may not happen. But, hey, it IS a fairy tale.
"If I were to marry anyone, Linnet, it would be you."
"I always knew these breasts would come in handy," she said with satisfaction.
(It's not like they are comfortable to own or house. They gotta give us something back for our troubles, right girls?)
The humor in this book is awesome! I LOVED this couple because they were perfect for each other. Beast is the best beast in any retelling ever. He was hilarious. The banter between them was great. And, again, the side characters were so good that I'm going to look for the half-book novellas that have their stories. All in all - totally fun.
March 14, 2017
*4.5 stars*
Tortured male MC based off of Dr. House, snarky banter, and a slow-burn love story?
I adored When Beauty Tamed the Beast, which was just what the doctor (ha!) ordered right now. It was my first read by the talented Eloisa James, and I think I started off with the right one.
I loved the loose interpretation of a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, especially since the beauty character had even more brains than beauty. Linnet was relatable, charming, and hear me out, probably on the demisexuality spectrum. I loved how she used her beauty to disarm people, but it was truly her wit and charm and made her special.
Piers was beastly and snarky and I loved it. I have a thing for sarcastic MCs and male MCs who are broody and damaged, and Piers was it. I was rooting for him to get his head out of his ass for the whole book, and I loved his raw sexuality and straightforward nature.
The whole book was great, even if the middle got a bit slow. However, the emotional, stellar last few chapters will keep you up reading until late into the night. Trust me.
I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, the medical content, and the pacing. Eloisa James, this one is a hit.
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Tortured male MC based off of Dr. House, snarky banter, and a slow-burn love story?
I adored When Beauty Tamed the Beast, which was just what the doctor (ha!) ordered right now. It was my first read by the talented Eloisa James, and I think I started off with the right one.
I loved the loose interpretation of a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, especially since the beauty character had even more brains than beauty. Linnet was relatable, charming, and hear me out, probably on the demisexuality spectrum. I loved how she used her beauty to disarm people, but it was truly her wit and charm and made her special.
Piers was beastly and snarky and I loved it. I have a thing for sarcastic MCs and male MCs who are broody and damaged, and Piers was it. I was rooting for him to get his head out of his ass for the whole book, and I loved his raw sexuality and straightforward nature.
The whole book was great, even if the middle got a bit slow. However, the emotional, stellar last few chapters will keep you up reading until late into the night. Trust me.
I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, the medical content, and the pacing. Eloisa James, this one is a hit.
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March 25, 2017
My goal was to read as many Beauty and Beast retellings as possible before I went to see the new movie. However, with all the book club reads and personal reads I was able to only read two. I read Beauty by Robin McKinley and this book. I looked up available Beauty and the Beast stories at the my library and this book popped up, so I thought, "why not?!"
This book was nothing like the original story of Beauty and the Beast. Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is beautiful, so she is called beauty every once in a while. However, rumors start that she is pregnant with the prince's baby so she becomes an unwanted woman. Her father agrees to have her married off to Piers Yelverton. Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales that is turned into a hospital; he is a doctor. He has a bad temper and he has a severe wound to his leg that has left him as a "beast."
Piers doesn't want a wife and is not interested in Linnet, but as time carries on his perspective on her changes. Do they fall in love? You will have to read to find out!
Like I said earlier, this book is nothing like Beauty and the Beast. It does not follow its plot or style at all; however, this was a fantastic book in all other ways and kept me very interested.
This book was nothing like the original story of Beauty and the Beast. Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is beautiful, so she is called beauty every once in a while. However, rumors start that she is pregnant with the prince's baby so she becomes an unwanted woman. Her father agrees to have her married off to Piers Yelverton. Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales that is turned into a hospital; he is a doctor. He has a bad temper and he has a severe wound to his leg that has left him as a "beast."
Piers doesn't want a wife and is not interested in Linnet, but as time carries on his perspective on her changes. Do they fall in love? You will have to read to find out!
Like I said earlier, this book is nothing like Beauty and the Beast. It does not follow its plot or style at all; however, this was a fantastic book in all other ways and kept me very interested.
January 31, 2011
If you like Dr House in TV, you'll probably enjoy this book too. The hero is exactly like House, the same aching leg and dry wit that drives some people insane and some women like flies to honey:) I belong to the second group because honestly I think there is nothing sexier than a man with brains, provided that he's not only using his wits to laugh at others, but also to laugh at himself.
I also liked the heroine a lot. Linnet was as sarcastic and intelligent asHouse Piers himself, thus resulting in many humorous dialogues that had me laughing out loud all the time. And then, as the end neared the tone of the book changed. It became more emotional, angsty even, as misunderstandings and self-denials threatened to tear those two apart. I understand why many people didn't like this turn of events, but being a lover of angsty romances mostly, it only made me appreciate the book more.
I definitely think the hype about this book is worth it after all:)
I also liked the heroine a lot. Linnet was as sarcastic and intelligent as
I definitely think the hype about this book is worth it after all:)
October 26, 2016
Loosely based on the traditional plot line, When Beauty Tamed the Beast is a quirky and fanciful version with a likeable society belle heroine and a cynical nobleman doctor hero as protagonists and a remote country estate in Regency-era Wales as backdrop.
James's writing was smooth and engaging as ever, infused with humour and zest, and her dialogues and banter shone as usual, so my lower rating stems from elsewhere. Mainly from the fact that I found the melodramatic turn the events took in the last quarter of the book completely at odds with the light-hearted, almost farcical, tone set at the beginning, making for an uneven read. The secondary characters (and romance) not as interesting and the hero's stubbornness which started to sound entirely gratuitous approaching the end, also prevented me to fully savour the story. As a whole an easy, entertaining read, just not on par with book 1 in the series, A Kiss at Midnight, instead a thoroughly enjoyable romp.
Buddy-read with Anna :)
July 28, 2010
5 stars – Historical Romance
After reading three books by Eloisa James that left me less than wowed, I was wary about reading another one. But the premise for this sounded great and all the rave reviews convinced me to give it a try. Boy oh boy, I’m so glad that I did because it’s fabulous...and yes, it wowed me! I loved it!
Sarcastic, snarky humor, witty banter, and snappy dialogue? Check!
A feisty, funny, intelligent, lovable heroine with razor-sharp wit who gives just as good as she gets? Check!
A crass, crotchety, cranky, self-centered, borderline mean, disabled, brilliant doctor hero who somehow manages to be likeable, amusing, and even sexy, despite his insufferably rude, general pain in the ass demeanor? Check!
A refreshing, unusual storyline, even though it’s a retelling of a class fairytale and borrows from the TV show House M.D.? Check!
Satisfying secondary characters? Check!
Nice, unique setting? Check! (The scenes in the “pool” and guardhouse were sensual and steamy!)
Some sad, touching moments that manage to avoid spiraling into melodramatic angst? Check!
Great epilogue? Check!
An overall keeper? Check!
The book that finally made me an Eloisa James fan? Check!
After reading three books by Eloisa James that left me less than wowed, I was wary about reading another one. But the premise for this sounded great and all the rave reviews convinced me to give it a try. Boy oh boy, I’m so glad that I did because it’s fabulous...and yes, it wowed me! I loved it!
Sarcastic, snarky humor, witty banter, and snappy dialogue? Check!
A feisty, funny, intelligent, lovable heroine with razor-sharp wit who gives just as good as she gets? Check!
A crass, crotchety, cranky, self-centered, borderline mean, disabled, brilliant doctor hero who somehow manages to be likeable, amusing, and even sexy, despite his insufferably rude, general pain in the ass demeanor? Check!
A refreshing, unusual storyline, even though it’s a retelling of a class fairytale and borrows from the TV show House M.D.? Check!
Satisfying secondary characters? Check!
Nice, unique setting? Check! (The scenes in the “pool” and guardhouse were sensual and steamy!)
Some sad, touching moments that manage to avoid spiraling into melodramatic angst? Check!
Great epilogue? Check!
An overall keeper? Check!
The book that finally made me an Eloisa James fan? Check!
November 25, 2021
✨AHHHHHHHHHHHH✨
THIS WAS SO GOOD
BUTTERCUP AND WESLEY VIBES
I WAS CLUTCHING MY PEARLS. IF YOU DON’T HAVE PEARLS, AQUIRE PEARLS IN WHICH TO CLUTCH
THE BANTER
THE SICK SCENE
THE PINING
AHHH
AHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHH
THE EPILOGUE
WHY WAS THIS SO CUTE I WASN’T PREPARED
I was never annoyed by her beauty; Linnet was such a great character. She never annoyed me how could she she was FABULOUS. YES QUEEN OWN THAT BEAUTY. MAKE THE MAN SUFFER. DRAG HIM THROUGH THE COALS. KISS IT BETTER. DO. IT. AGAIN.
PIERS. The humor. The irritability. The denial. The reckoning. The caring. The penis.
The two were PERFECT for each other. I couldn’t have imagined a better couple if I tried. Favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling EVER. The supporting characters were amazing. It was just so fun. And touching. I’ve been touched!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
“Oh good.” Piers said. “I’m ferociously competitive. I think I told you that before.”
“He probably liked to laugh,” the earl said. It was the first nice thing he’d said to her.
You should read the book so these quotes make sense and steal your heart.
THIS WAS SO GOOD
BUTTERCUP AND WESLEY VIBES
I WAS CLUTCHING MY PEARLS. IF YOU DON’T HAVE PEARLS, AQUIRE PEARLS IN WHICH TO CLUTCH
THE BANTER
THE SICK SCENE
THE PINING
AHHH
AHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHH
THE EPILOGUE
WHY WAS THIS SO CUTE I WASN’T PREPARED
I was never annoyed by her beauty; Linnet was such a great character. She never annoyed me how could she she was FABULOUS. YES QUEEN OWN THAT BEAUTY. MAKE THE MAN SUFFER. DRAG HIM THROUGH THE COALS. KISS IT BETTER. DO. IT. AGAIN.
PIERS. The humor. The irritability. The denial. The reckoning. The caring. The penis.
The two were PERFECT for each other. I couldn’t have imagined a better couple if I tried. Favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling EVER. The supporting characters were amazing. It was just so fun. And touching. I’ve been touched!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
“Oh good.” Piers said. “I’m ferociously competitive. I think I told you that before.”
“He probably liked to laugh,” the earl said. It was the first nice thing he’d said to her.
You should read the book so these quotes make sense and steal your heart.
February 8, 2011
I love love love this book. It is classic Eloisa James...fun and funny, and emotional and wonderful all at the same time. Could well be my favorite of all her books!
March 21, 2021
As entertaining as I hoped it would be though some parts bored me.
But Eloisa James writes some of the best witty banter and dialogue. I can’t wait to read more books by her.
But Eloisa James writes some of the best witty banter and dialogue. I can’t wait to read more books by her.
September 29, 2026
4.5 Queen of Women ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was pure old-school sweetness with a generous serving of witty banter. It’s absolutely giving Shakespearean romance/comedy, and I was here for every minute of it.
The premise: (baby spoilers)
Linette is the most beautiful woman to walk the earth. Think Helen of Troy, and she knows it. But she’s also intelligent and has a healthy amount of self-esteem, so she has absolutely no interest in compliments or men falling at her feet.
Unfortunately, she does catch the attention of the younger Prince of England, who kisses her in front of the entire ton at a ball. She is immediately ruined and, adorably, completely unbothered by it.
Her father and aunt decide they need to marry her off in haste because everyone now believes she is carrying the Prince’s child.
Enter Piers, Earl of Marchant and son of a Duke. Piers is estranged from his father, who hurt him terribly as a child. His father wants to make amends by finding him the perfect bride, so Piers gives him a list of requirements, and casually informs him that he can’t have children because of injuries from his childhood.
Which is completely untrue. He just enjoys sticking it to his father.
So when the Duke hears about the beautiful Linette, supposedly pregnant with a Prince’s child, he sees the perfect opportunity to secure a prestigious lineage that eventually will be Piers’ heir.
See? Shakespeare is everywhere.
Except Linette isn’t pregnant. She’s pretending to be because she desperately needs a husband before her reputation is completely destroyed.
When they meet sparks fly and heads are butted.
Piers is a renowned physician in his own right and has absolutely no interest in marriage, despite finding Linette’s beauty mesmerizing. But somehow, this woman starts slipping past all the walls he has spent his entire life building.
He starts appearing in her room at night just to talk. He teaches her to swim. They spar, flirt, argue and dance around each other while both insisting this can never work.
And underneath all the banter, you watch them falling in love.
Linette realizes it first. But when she finally allows herself to be vulnerable, Piers turns her away. He tells her it was only physical and that he never promised her anything.
So Linette leaves. But something is about to change..
This was such a beautifully written, engaging, genuinely sweet story. The characters felt incredibly well fleshed out and, more importantly, they felt like real people. The romance arc just kept climbing while the story somehow managed to make me laugh along the way.
Linette is also a queen. Beautiful, clever, confident and completely unwilling to make herself smaller for anyone. I am a sucker for a beautiful heroine, and this woman delivered.
Should you read it? YES.
If you want something witty, romantic and utterly heartwarming something that feels like a little restoration project for your faith in humanity, this will hit the spot.
Chance of divorce? 0%. They will never let go.
This was pure old-school sweetness with a generous serving of witty banter. It’s absolutely giving Shakespearean romance/comedy, and I was here for every minute of it.
The premise: (baby spoilers)
Linette is the most beautiful woman to walk the earth. Think Helen of Troy, and she knows it. But she’s also intelligent and has a healthy amount of self-esteem, so she has absolutely no interest in compliments or men falling at her feet.
Unfortunately, she does catch the attention of the younger Prince of England, who kisses her in front of the entire ton at a ball. She is immediately ruined and, adorably, completely unbothered by it.
Her father and aunt decide they need to marry her off in haste because everyone now believes she is carrying the Prince’s child.
Enter Piers, Earl of Marchant and son of a Duke. Piers is estranged from his father, who hurt him terribly as a child. His father wants to make amends by finding him the perfect bride, so Piers gives him a list of requirements, and casually informs him that he can’t have children because of injuries from his childhood.
Which is completely untrue. He just enjoys sticking it to his father.
So when the Duke hears about the beautiful Linette, supposedly pregnant with a Prince’s child, he sees the perfect opportunity to secure a prestigious lineage that eventually will be Piers’ heir.
See? Shakespeare is everywhere.
Except Linette isn’t pregnant. She’s pretending to be because she desperately needs a husband before her reputation is completely destroyed.
When they meet sparks fly and heads are butted.
Piers is a renowned physician in his own right and has absolutely no interest in marriage, despite finding Linette’s beauty mesmerizing. But somehow, this woman starts slipping past all the walls he has spent his entire life building.
He starts appearing in her room at night just to talk. He teaches her to swim. They spar, flirt, argue and dance around each other while both insisting this can never work.
And underneath all the banter, you watch them falling in love.
Linette realizes it first. But when she finally allows herself to be vulnerable, Piers turns her away. He tells her it was only physical and that he never promised her anything.
So Linette leaves. But something is about to change..
This was such a beautifully written, engaging, genuinely sweet story. The characters felt incredibly well fleshed out and, more importantly, they felt like real people. The romance arc just kept climbing while the story somehow managed to make me laugh along the way.
Linette is also a queen. Beautiful, clever, confident and completely unwilling to make herself smaller for anyone. I am a sucker for a beautiful heroine, and this woman delivered.
Should you read it? YES.
If you want something witty, romantic and utterly heartwarming something that feels like a little restoration project for your faith in humanity, this will hit the spot.
Chance of divorce? 0%. They will never let go.
January 1, 2011
This is the Historical Romance for those who are bored with the standard or the norm. Different type of hero, and a great heroine. I loved the story..up til the end...the ending ruined it for me.
The opening scene of this book is hysterical. Our heroine Linnet has just been ruined. Why is this funny? There were a couple factors in her being shunned from the ton but the biggie was her new gown. It's this fabulous new frilly ballgown...that makes her look pregnant!!! Combine that with her absolutely gorgeous face, her large bosom, her mother's reputation, and being seen kissing a prince, she's ruined.
Her father and her aunt felt it was her beauty. She got it from her mother, Rosalyn, who was never faithful...or discreet.
"I've been a model of chastity this season. In fact, through my entire life!"
Her father frowned. "It's just that there's something about you--"
"You look naughty," her aunt said, not unkindly."God help Rosalyn, but this is all her fault. She gave it to you. That dimple, and something in your eyes and about your mouth. You look like a wanton."
The first chapter had me smiling like crazy at how witty Linnet is, and how witty the author Eloisa James is. This is part of her series that had A Kiss at Midnight and Storming the Castle. For me, both of those were 5 star reads.
Then we meet Dr. House, er, I mean, Piers. Piers is a doctor in Wales who is just brilliant. But he'skind of an ass. At first I didn't mind his arrogance, his gruff personality, his whole demeanor. It worked.
His father, the duke, sprung a fiance on him, though, and Piers went out of his way to make her miserable...but Linnet didn't scare easily. Mind you, she's just been sent to Wales, after being shunned from the only society she's ever known. And the way she handled Piers was fantastic. I adored her. Usually super gorgeous heroines who know they are beautiful are just either idiotic TSTL silly chits, or they are just plain irritating. Linnet was none of that. She was a fabulous heroine. Eloisa James writes wonderful heroines.
That being said, I may rant a bit.
Piers and Linnet were engaged because Linnet was supposedly pregnant, and Piers was supposedly impotent. The duke wanted an heir...voila! A foolproof plan. Right?
******SPOILER AHEAD, but I can't continue without telling it*****
He continued to be an ass to Linnet, who took him back...healed and didn't loose her beauty, and they lived happily ever after. with an epilogue.
I'm still pissed.
http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.co...
The opening scene of this book is hysterical. Our heroine Linnet has just been ruined. Why is this funny? There were a couple factors in her being shunned from the ton but the biggie was her new gown. It's this fabulous new frilly ballgown...that makes her look pregnant!!! Combine that with her absolutely gorgeous face, her large bosom, her mother's reputation, and being seen kissing a prince, she's ruined.
Her father and her aunt felt it was her beauty. She got it from her mother, Rosalyn, who was never faithful...or discreet.
"I've been a model of chastity this season. In fact, through my entire life!"
Her father frowned. "It's just that there's something about you--"
"You look naughty," her aunt said, not unkindly."God help Rosalyn, but this is all her fault. She gave it to you. That dimple, and something in your eyes and about your mouth. You look like a wanton."
The first chapter had me smiling like crazy at how witty Linnet is, and how witty the author Eloisa James is. This is part of her series that had A Kiss at Midnight and Storming the Castle. For me, both of those were 5 star reads.
Then we meet Dr. House, er, I mean, Piers. Piers is a doctor in Wales who is just brilliant. But he's
His father, the duke, sprung a fiance on him, though, and Piers went out of his way to make her miserable...but Linnet didn't scare easily. Mind you, she's just been sent to Wales, after being shunned from the only society she's ever known. And the way she handled Piers was fantastic. I adored her. Usually super gorgeous heroines who know they are beautiful are just either idiotic TSTL silly chits, or they are just plain irritating. Linnet was none of that. She was a fabulous heroine. Eloisa James writes wonderful heroines.
That being said, I may rant a bit.
Piers and Linnet were engaged because Linnet was supposedly pregnant, and Piers was supposedly impotent. The duke wanted an heir...voila! A foolproof plan. Right?
******SPOILER AHEAD, but I can't continue without telling it*****
He continued to be an ass to Linnet, who took him back...healed and didn't loose her beauty, and they lived happily ever after. with an epilogue.
I'm still pissed.
http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.co...
September 23, 2021
This was a beautifully complex but also simple and sweet, seductive historical. Delightful banter, excellent characters, and a fun twist on the classic fairy tale.
April 12, 2011
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I loved this one, narrated by Susan Duerden, who does an excellent job. I’ll be looking for more of her work. She is so good with the male (not easy) and female voices and the accents, regardless of the country or the social class. Ms. Duerden is very good at making me forget the book is even being narrated, instead drawing me into the story.
Speaking of the story…granted, there are a few things for which I really should mark off on my star rating; however, I just couldn’t because it was such a joy to listen to. In the opening, the plotting and rationalizations by the heroine’s father and aunt were almost too ridiculous for me to get over. I was rolling my eyes. All they had to do was dress Linnet, the heroine, in a form-fitting outfit and the rumors would be reduced by half. The author also throws in some modern day expressions, such as “What happens in Wales, stays in Wales” and “It’s not me, it’s you. No, it’s not you, it’s me…” Ms. James even admits in the author’s note that the hero was inspired by the irascible doctor on TV’s House.
Still, the upshot of it all was just too tongue-in-cheek to resist; I found myself laughing, smiling, and enjoying the tale – a lot!
Plus, I really adored the way the heroine handled the hero, Piers, without resorting to snipping; Linnet used charm, wit, and inner beauty to tame her beast.
Fairy Tales Series
August 6, 2012
Totally wanted to hate this book, and I ended up really liking it! Basically combine the most perfect woman ever with a cranky House-like Duke and you have this book. That pitch alone made me NOT read it for a while, the heroine is described is SUCH DETAIL about how pretty and perfect she is, so I was even more impressed when you dove into the book how likable she became. And once I got over hearing House in my ear with the hero, I really loved his character. Def a Historical stand-alone that's worth a pick up!
April 5, 2017
I am re-reading all my 5 star rated romance novels. There are 60 on my shelf. This is book 9.
(Tropes: Tortured Hero (limp), Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, Starched (hero) gets Unstarched, Fairytale Retelling (Beauty and the Beast), Fake Relationship)
This is how my 9th re-read held up.
The male character of this book is based on Gregory House M.D. Snarky, bitter, mocking, moody, cranky, cynical, antagonistic, and with a complete disregard for social rules.
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?????????
**********
- “A barking-mad doctor—that’s me—and a wickedly conniving beauty—that’s you—limping along together in a lifetime of happiness? I hardly think so. You’ve been reading too many fairy stories.”
**********
Linnet finds herself, by an unfortunate misunderstanding, shunned by polite society. The solution is to ship her off to Wales to marry the son of her father’s friend.
- “He hasn’t got what it takes,” her aunt clarified.
“He hasn’t?” Sundon asked blankly.
“Minus a digit,” Zenobia added.
“A finger?” Linnet ventured.
“For goodness’ sake,” Zenobia said, licking a bit of honey off one finger. “I always have to spell everything out in this house. The man suffered an accident as a young man. He walks with a cane. And that accident left him impotent, to call a stone a stone. No heir now, and none in the future either.”
- “The man’s got a terrible temper. Brilliant doctor—or so everyone says—but the temper of a fiend.”
He’s all charms the first time they meet.
- “You can count to three,” he said approvingly. “That bodes well for our offspring.”
- “I suppose you think I’ll fall in love with you,” he said.
“Quite likely.”
“How long do you give yourself?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Two weeks at the outside.”
And then she did give him the smile—dimples, charm, sensuality and all.
He didn’t even blink. “Was that the best you’ve got?”
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
- She smiled, not that full-blown dimpled miracle that she used to manipulate the poor sods who fell under her spell, but a small, almost secret, smile. Just a curl of her lips and a smile deep in her eyes.
“Right,” he said, pushing back from the table.
“We haven’t had our second course yet—”
“Patients dying upstairs, you know.” And with that he took himself off. He was losing his head, sitting there looking at her eyes.
She doesn’t only hold her own against him, she gets him.
- “No need to keep beating that particular dead horse.”
“Yes, why bother, when your son can have fun doing it for you?” Linnet said.
“Are you always this sarcastic?” Piers actually looked rather startled.
“No. I’m a very nice young lady,” Linnet said. “You bring out the worst in me, however.”
- “You must forgive your father because anger is destructive, and it makes you a worse doctor.”
“Actually, it makes me a better doctor. I’m more likely to notice when people are lying to me, and believe me, there’s no one people lie to more than a doctor.”
“Wrong,” she said. “Spouses win.”
He gave a crack of laughter.
- It wasn’t the flirtation, but the similarity to himself that intoxicated him. In her own way she was a female version of him: dislikable. Too beautiful, too intelligent, too sharp-tongued.
(ok, she is blonde in the book, but play along please)
- Sébastien brought Linnet over. “I thought perhaps you didn’t notice that your fiancée had entered the room.”
“Good evening, fiancée.”
“Beelzebub,” she said, inclining her head. There was a secret smile in her eyes.
Resistance is futile on both accounts.
- He held out his cane toward her. “Will you take that for me?”
She stepped forward and took the end of it, whereupon he jerked backward, reeling her in like a fish on a line.
Linnet fell on top of him in a fluttering soft bundle of sweet-scented womanhood.
Piers’s arms tightened. “Damn, you smell good.”
Of course the emotionally immature one backtracks.
- “I must go.” He seemed suddenly irritated, as if he were blaming her for something.
She caught his arm. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“We were having a perfectly good time a moment ago, and now you’re stiff and unfriendly.”
He turned around with a little snarl. “A man never likes it when he almost loses his head over a woman.”
- “I’ve never bothered to love anyone,” Piers said.
Linnet was laughing. Diamonds shone in her ears, twinkled at her throat. She looked like a fairy princess, someone created by a magic wand.
“That’s true enough. You never bothered. And you’re not bothering now, are you? Even though your father wrapped her up like a present and dropped her in your lap.”
Piers flinched, and Sébastien let out a crack of laughter. “So that’s why. You can’t contemplate Linnet because your father chose her. And you’re too busy hating your father for his past sins to admit that he found the right woman for you.”
- “You don’t want to admit to loving me because that would mean you have to take responsibility for being miserable—or in this case, not being miserable,” she said, raising her chin and staring back at him.
- “I don’t mind being a fool for you,” she said. “I love you.”
Unfortunately, a pesky epidemic (scarlet fever) interrupts their happy ending, and it looks pretty bleak for a while.
But it also brings clarity.
- “She’s like my other half,” Piers said savagely, keeping his head down. “My other bloody half, like some sort of joke that Plato made up. Like nothing I ever wanted, and then, there she was.”
(So let’s embrace epidemics going forward mkay?)
**********
(yeah, I might have a thing for G House…what gave it away?)
(Tropes: Tortured Hero (limp), Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, Starched (hero) gets Unstarched, Fairytale Retelling (Beauty and the Beast), Fake Relationship)
This is how my 9th re-read held up.
The male character of this book is based on Gregory House M.D. Snarky, bitter, mocking, moody, cranky, cynical, antagonistic, and with a complete disregard for social rules.
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?????????
**********
- “A barking-mad doctor—that’s me—and a wickedly conniving beauty—that’s you—limping along together in a lifetime of happiness? I hardly think so. You’ve been reading too many fairy stories.”
**********
Linnet finds herself, by an unfortunate misunderstanding, shunned by polite society. The solution is to ship her off to Wales to marry the son of her father’s friend.
- “He hasn’t got what it takes,” her aunt clarified.
“He hasn’t?” Sundon asked blankly.
“Minus a digit,” Zenobia added.
“A finger?” Linnet ventured.
“For goodness’ sake,” Zenobia said, licking a bit of honey off one finger. “I always have to spell everything out in this house. The man suffered an accident as a young man. He walks with a cane. And that accident left him impotent, to call a stone a stone. No heir now, and none in the future either.”
- “The man’s got a terrible temper. Brilliant doctor—or so everyone says—but the temper of a fiend.”
He’s all charms the first time they meet.
- “You can count to three,” he said approvingly. “That bodes well for our offspring.”
- “I suppose you think I’ll fall in love with you,” he said.
“Quite likely.”
“How long do you give yourself?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Two weeks at the outside.”
And then she did give him the smile—dimples, charm, sensuality and all.
He didn’t even blink. “Was that the best you’ve got?”
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
- She smiled, not that full-blown dimpled miracle that she used to manipulate the poor sods who fell under her spell, but a small, almost secret, smile. Just a curl of her lips and a smile deep in her eyes.
“Right,” he said, pushing back from the table.
“We haven’t had our second course yet—”
“Patients dying upstairs, you know.” And with that he took himself off. He was losing his head, sitting there looking at her eyes.
She doesn’t only hold her own against him, she gets him.
- “No need to keep beating that particular dead horse.”
“Yes, why bother, when your son can have fun doing it for you?” Linnet said.
“Are you always this sarcastic?” Piers actually looked rather startled.
“No. I’m a very nice young lady,” Linnet said. “You bring out the worst in me, however.”
- “You must forgive your father because anger is destructive, and it makes you a worse doctor.”
“Actually, it makes me a better doctor. I’m more likely to notice when people are lying to me, and believe me, there’s no one people lie to more than a doctor.”
“Wrong,” she said. “Spouses win.”
He gave a crack of laughter.
- It wasn’t the flirtation, but the similarity to himself that intoxicated him. In her own way she was a female version of him: dislikable. Too beautiful, too intelligent, too sharp-tongued.
(ok, she is blonde in the book, but play along please)
- Sébastien brought Linnet over. “I thought perhaps you didn’t notice that your fiancée had entered the room.”
“Good evening, fiancée.”
“Beelzebub,” she said, inclining her head. There was a secret smile in her eyes.
Resistance is futile on both accounts.
- He held out his cane toward her. “Will you take that for me?”
She stepped forward and took the end of it, whereupon he jerked backward, reeling her in like a fish on a line.
Linnet fell on top of him in a fluttering soft bundle of sweet-scented womanhood.
Piers’s arms tightened. “Damn, you smell good.”
Of course the emotionally immature one backtracks.
- “I must go.” He seemed suddenly irritated, as if he were blaming her for something.
She caught his arm. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“We were having a perfectly good time a moment ago, and now you’re stiff and unfriendly.”
He turned around with a little snarl. “A man never likes it when he almost loses his head over a woman.”
- “I’ve never bothered to love anyone,” Piers said.
Linnet was laughing. Diamonds shone in her ears, twinkled at her throat. She looked like a fairy princess, someone created by a magic wand.
“That’s true enough. You never bothered. And you’re not bothering now, are you? Even though your father wrapped her up like a present and dropped her in your lap.”
Piers flinched, and Sébastien let out a crack of laughter. “So that’s why. You can’t contemplate Linnet because your father chose her. And you’re too busy hating your father for his past sins to admit that he found the right woman for you.”
- “You don’t want to admit to loving me because that would mean you have to take responsibility for being miserable—or in this case, not being miserable,” she said, raising her chin and staring back at him.
- “I don’t mind being a fool for you,” she said. “I love you.”
Unfortunately, a pesky epidemic (scarlet fever) interrupts their happy ending, and it looks pretty bleak for a while.
But it also brings clarity.
- “She’s like my other half,” Piers said savagely, keeping his head down. “My other bloody half, like some sort of joke that Plato made up. Like nothing I ever wanted, and then, there she was.”
(So let’s embrace epidemics going forward mkay?)
**********
(yeah, I might have a thing for G House…what gave it away?)
March 10, 2016
Sweet book I liked the characters the girl had a sense of humor and the guy was just so bluntly mean it was funny. It didnt really have much to do with beauty and the beast which was what I was looking forward to but still I enjoyed it
October 17, 2017
3.75 Strawberry Stars
Nothing good ever comes from kissing princes, well at least not for Linnet. It has already been decided that she is a light skirt and harlot who gave herself the Prince. It doesn’t matter that she didn’t and it surely doesn’t matter that she isn’t carrying a child by him. The Ton has decided that she is just like her mother and is a wanton harlot.
I like Linnet, she is a beautiful woman who might look naughty but that doesn’t mean that she is. She didn’t really even like kissing the Prince but now she will forever be ruined. Good thing her father and medaling aunt have a plan to save her from spinsterhood. She shall marry someone who can’t have an heir of his own and would be grateful to take on a pregnant beauty who has a royal run in the oven.
So I would maybe not like this little deception except Linnet is really pretty cute about it. She figures that she can meet the Duke she has been picked to marry and let him fall in love with her and then just explain about the entire misunderstanding and lacking baby.
Piers is really an 18th century House. He knows everything about medicine and everyone else of the time is simply barbaric using leaches and bloodletting as sure saves for fevers still. He even has a set of students following him around his house trying to learn all there is to know about medicine from him. He has a leg wound that hurts all the time and gives him a limp. He is a bully and a terror and Linnet isn’t going to let him push her around.
This is a pretty cute tale. Peirs never wanted to care for anyone and Linnet has always been fawned over for her beauty alone. She is enjoying that her patented smile that has to this point turned most men’s knees to jelly doesn’t work at all on Peirs. He is enjoying that she can throw words around just as well as he can and never backs down in the face of his bad moods.
It is a very loose interpretation of Beauty and the Beast, but still a good one. I did like that it was true to the history of medicine in that time and that the Beast wasn’t actually beastly looking but more that he behaved like one instead. The banter between Peir and Linnet was really quite fun and I loved how they teased each other relentlessly at times.
Totally a cute historical fiction romance.
Nothing good ever comes from kissing princes, well at least not for Linnet. It has already been decided that she is a light skirt and harlot who gave herself the Prince. It doesn’t matter that she didn’t and it surely doesn’t matter that she isn’t carrying a child by him. The Ton has decided that she is just like her mother and is a wanton harlot.
“God Almighty, your ruined, and you didn't even eat the gingerbread.”
I like Linnet, she is a beautiful woman who might look naughty but that doesn’t mean that she is. She didn’t really even like kissing the Prince but now she will forever be ruined. Good thing her father and medaling aunt have a plan to save her from spinsterhood. She shall marry someone who can’t have an heir of his own and would be grateful to take on a pregnant beauty who has a royal run in the oven.
“I do believe that his given name is something odd. Peregrine, Penrose- Piers, that's it."
"He sounds like a dock." Lord Sundron put in.
"Mrs. Hutchins called me a light frigate this morning," Linnet said "a dock might be just the thing for me.”
So I would maybe not like this little deception except Linnet is really pretty cute about it. She figures that she can meet the Duke she has been picked to marry and let him fall in love with her and then just explain about the entire misunderstanding and lacking baby.
Piers is really an 18th century House. He knows everything about medicine and everyone else of the time is simply barbaric using leaches and bloodletting as sure saves for fevers still. He even has a set of students following him around his house trying to learn all there is to know about medicine from him. He has a leg wound that hurts all the time and gives him a limp. He is a bully and a terror and Linnet isn’t going to let him push her around.
This is a pretty cute tale. Peirs never wanted to care for anyone and Linnet has always been fawned over for her beauty alone. She is enjoying that her patented smile that has to this point turned most men’s knees to jelly doesn’t work at all on Peirs. He is enjoying that she can throw words around just as well as he can and never backs down in the face of his bad moods.
It is a very loose interpretation of Beauty and the Beast, but still a good one. I did like that it was true to the history of medicine in that time and that the Beast wasn’t actually beastly looking but more that he behaved like one instead. The banter between Peir and Linnet was really quite fun and I loved how they teased each other relentlessly at times.
Totally a cute historical fiction romance.
February 2, 2011
I don't know why, but this pic made me think of Piers and Linnet playing by the beach pool:
December 28, 2021
5 STARS!!
This one solidifies Eloisa James as the master of witty grumpy/sunshine dialogue.😍😍 So glad I saw your review, Angie!
"You will never love anyone but me."Piers and Linnet were all kinds of farcical bantering fun! I devoured their story and would definitely reread it again in the future.
This one solidifies Eloisa James as the master of witty grumpy/sunshine dialogue.😍😍 So glad I saw your review, Angie!
August 29, 2010
This book was absolutely fabulous in the beginning! I loved the banter and I loved the characters. Linnet was such a great heroine and I adored her willingness to go toe to toe with the beast of a doctor, Piers. I've heard that the author modeled the hero after Dr. House, and it must be true because the similarities are quite obvious. That's all right though because I've always enjoyed House. He's an ass, yes, but he is also strangely nice and oddly charming. So it's no surprise that I loved Piers too.
I loved the playfulness between Linnet and Piers. They actually became friends in this book which is something I treasure in my romances. The humor was spot on as well. Just like in the last fairytale style book Eloisa James wrote this one has a bit of a farcical feel to it. I saw shades of my favorite couple by this author (in the beginning at least) when Piers and Linnet decided to play and tease each other. It was sexy and fun and I felt they fit together well.
I really liked the side bits we got of Piers's mother and father. The revelations we had about their past and the reason Piers disliked his father is heartbreaking. I think the author was smart to show his pov because otherwise it would have been harder to forgive him for his mistakes.
So why isn't this a 5 star? Because the book went down the drain toward the end. The conflict at the end seemed to come out of nowhere and I felt that forgiveness came way too easily. It was like so many other issues cropped up after that scene that the actual original conflict wasn't given more than a token apology. I wasn't enraged when it ended, but I was still miffed and I felt that things were solved too easily. It actually bothered me so much that it took the grade down to a very low 4 stars. I debated going into the 3 star range, but I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book too much to do that.
I'm still looking forward to the next fairytale themed book, but I hope that one stays good throughout instead of turning lame at the end.
Also, I was really bothered by the way it seemed like Linnet needed to be brought down a peg before she could be with Piers. What was up with that???
I loved the playfulness between Linnet and Piers. They actually became friends in this book which is something I treasure in my romances. The humor was spot on as well. Just like in the last fairytale style book Eloisa James wrote this one has a bit of a farcical feel to it. I saw shades of my favorite couple by this author (in the beginning at least) when Piers and Linnet decided to play and tease each other. It was sexy and fun and I felt they fit together well.
I really liked the side bits we got of Piers's mother and father. The revelations we had about their past and the reason Piers disliked his father is heartbreaking. I think the author was smart to show his pov because otherwise it would have been harder to forgive him for his mistakes.
So why isn't this a 5 star? Because the book went down the drain toward the end. The conflict at the end seemed to come out of nowhere and I felt that forgiveness came way too easily. It was like so many other issues cropped up after that scene that the actual original conflict wasn't given more than a token apology. I wasn't enraged when it ended, but I was still miffed and I felt that things were solved too easily. It actually bothered me so much that it took the grade down to a very low 4 stars. I debated going into the 3 star range, but I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book too much to do that.
I'm still looking forward to the next fairytale themed book, but I hope that one stays good throughout instead of turning lame at the end.
Also, I was really bothered by the way it seemed like Linnet needed to be brought down a peg before she could be with Piers. What was up with that???
December 2, 2020
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5/5 STARS
This one was really steamy in a lot of ways. You'll get super frustrated that everyone ADORES her beauty but then you start to realize it's all part of the retelling. I really liked the quick whipped humor in this book, the enemies to lovers romance, and the miss sunshine and mr. grumps trope. It's definitely cute and the ending was extremely angsty!!!
I doubted eloisa james' novels for a groundless reason but now i'm buying all of her books after reading this one.
This one was really steamy in a lot of ways. You'll get super frustrated that everyone ADORES her beauty but then you start to realize it's all part of the retelling. I really liked the quick whipped humor in this book, the enemies to lovers romance, and the miss sunshine and mr. grumps trope. It's definitely cute and the ending was extremely angsty!!!
I doubted eloisa james' novels for a groundless reason but now i'm buying all of her books after reading this one.
May 9, 2022
4.5 stars. That first six chapters were positively horrid I almost DNF this all together. But the middle part... the part where they first met plus them getting to know each other and their banter are... fireworks. Also this book made me want to slap a doctor.
Linnet is beautiful. When rumours were going around that she was pregnant with a Prince’s child, her father decided she was ruined (even though the rumour isn’t true). Her father made a deal with a duke whose son is beastly and supposedly unable to have a child. The father shipped her off to the man’s castle. Linnet and Doctor Piers were quick to get along and she liked how she was comfortable around him. But one thing’s the problem, he didn’t want to marry someone his father picked... because he hated his father.
Let’s get my ranting out of the way before we get to the good bits. Basically, these are the reason why I lost my mind. You might notice why I only mentioned the middle being the fireworks and such. It is true, the book is undeniably good, but I am just tired of the Hero pushing away the heroine trope. It got old real quick. I hate uncertainty. This happened in the near end part. And to be honest, I wasn’t satisfied with the ending either. Not to mention the first six chapters were dreadful. I hated it.
Piers is a manly guy with sarcastic humour and a lot of knowledge. He's the guy you want to fall in love with in real life. He’s a doctor, he’s smart. He would’ve been my favourite hero if he didn’t * spoilers * Sir? Please welcome my fist, my boot, and my slap altogether. I would cut off your limbs if you say that again.
Say it with me author: 𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙶𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚄𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕. I NEED DESCRIPTIONS GODAMMIT.
Besides that, the book is positively lovely lmao. With that long of a rant and still receiving a four and a half-star, this book has done the impossible. Did it squeeze through to get a four star just from the couple dynamic? What was so special? Everything.
I love how Linnet and Piers interact. Everything about their interaction is perfect. Lovely exquisite. Setting the bad stuff aside, this has that particular charm, and most importantly, it revived my love for Historical Romance after a bad case of book-slump
My heart was beating while reading this. It was a thrill. Romantic, hot, whatever you call it. Although it certainly isn’t perfect, I did not regret reading it. The romance was strong and I’m here for that. I love Piers, despite that one part, and I actually sympathize with him. I cried for him and that certainly shows how good this was for me.
Question: If you read this series before, do Linnet and Piers appear in the other books? I am still unsatisfied and need the author to write that they're ok because I’m clearly not. Cheers.
Linnet is beautiful. When rumours were going around that she was pregnant with a Prince’s child, her father decided she was ruined (even though the rumour isn’t true). Her father made a deal with a duke whose son is beastly and supposedly unable to have a child. The father shipped her off to the man’s castle. Linnet and Doctor Piers were quick to get along and she liked how she was comfortable around him. But one thing’s the problem, he didn’t want to marry someone his father picked... because he hated his father.
Let’s get my ranting out of the way before we get to the good bits. Basically, these are the reason why I lost my mind. You might notice why I only mentioned the middle being the fireworks and such. It is true, the book is undeniably good, but I am just tired of the Hero pushing away the heroine trope. It got old real quick. I hate uncertainty. This happened in the near end part. And to be honest, I wasn’t satisfied with the ending either. Not to mention the first six chapters were dreadful. I hated it.
Piers is a manly guy with sarcastic humour and a lot of knowledge. He's the guy you want to fall in love with in real life. He’s a doctor, he’s smart. He would’ve been my favourite hero if he didn’t * spoilers * Sir? Please welcome my fist, my boot, and my slap altogether. I would cut off your limbs if you say that again.
Say it with me author: 𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙶𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚄𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕. I NEED DESCRIPTIONS GODAMMIT.
Besides that, the book is positively lovely lmao. With that long of a rant and still receiving a four and a half-star, this book has done the impossible. Did it squeeze through to get a four star just from the couple dynamic? What was so special? Everything.
I love how Linnet and Piers interact. Everything about their interaction is perfect. Lovely exquisite. Setting the bad stuff aside, this has that particular charm, and most importantly, it revived my love for Historical Romance after a bad case of book-slump
My heart was beating while reading this. It was a thrill. Romantic, hot, whatever you call it. Although it certainly isn’t perfect, I did not regret reading it. The romance was strong and I’m here for that. I love Piers, despite that one part, and I actually sympathize with him. I cried for him and that certainly shows how good this was for me.
Question: If you read this series before, do Linnet and Piers appear in the other books? I am still unsatisfied and need the author to write that they're ok because I’m clearly not. Cheers.
February 14, 2018
Bug still plaguing me, read from 12/2-13/2.
14/2 - If you know me/my reviews, you'll find it as amazing as I do that this was my first romance for 2018. I had a large pile of mostly non-romance library books left over from last year that I wanted to read (this was one of them) and it's taken me till now to get to this one thanks to other more pressing due dates.
I had problems with the only other James book I've read, Much Ado About You as it didn't focus on the main couple, in fact when I DNFed it I didn't even know who the main couple was, and so I was a little nervous going into this one. Thankfully, this was completely different from that previous book and I really loved it. Linnet could have been beaten down by the Ton's gossip and pressure from her family to make what everyone believed about her to be a reality, but she was stronger than that. And she needed to be strong to handle Piers' domineering and antagonistic personality.
I loved Linnet's snarky comebacks to Piers' sometimes cruel barbs and I really enjoyed Piers' resemblance to Dr Gregory House, even more so when I read in the author's note at the end that he was James' inspiration for her character. I think she did a great job of turning House into a Regency-era surgeon and she managed to include all the secondary characters too. Piers' appearances in Linnet's bedroom every morning were both funny and slightly disturbing - funny that he was so impatient to wake her up so that they could go swimming together, disturbing because well that's pretty obvious - and the actual swimming scenes were definite favourites of mine.
It's weird that the summary from the back of the book gives her name as 'Lisle', but inside it's 'Linnet'. Her middle name is the same, but the reader isn't told of it till nearly the end. I'm glad the name got changed, because 'Lisle' is too close to 'Lyle' for me and that's just not the name of a Beauty level beauty. I've read in others' reviews that the other books in the series aren't as good AND that Eloisa James is known to be hit and miss for many readers, so I think that I might pick another of hers up if it was right there in front of me, but I won't be making any kind of effort to hunt it down.
14/2 - If you know me/my reviews, you'll find it as amazing as I do that this was my first romance for 2018. I had a large pile of mostly non-romance library books left over from last year that I wanted to read (this was one of them) and it's taken me till now to get to this one thanks to other more pressing due dates.
I had problems with the only other James book I've read, Much Ado About You as it didn't focus on the main couple, in fact when I DNFed it I didn't even know who the main couple was, and so I was a little nervous going into this one. Thankfully, this was completely different from that previous book and I really loved it. Linnet could have been beaten down by the Ton's gossip and pressure from her family to make what everyone believed about her to be a reality, but she was stronger than that. And she needed to be strong to handle Piers' domineering and antagonistic personality.
I loved Linnet's snarky comebacks to Piers' sometimes cruel barbs and I really enjoyed Piers' resemblance to Dr Gregory House, even more so when I read in the author's note at the end that he was James' inspiration for her character. I think she did a great job of turning House into a Regency-era surgeon and she managed to include all the secondary characters too. Piers' appearances in Linnet's bedroom every morning were both funny and slightly disturbing - funny that he was so impatient to wake her up so that they could go swimming together, disturbing because well that's pretty obvious - and the actual swimming scenes were definite favourites of mine.
It's weird that the summary from the back of the book gives her name as 'Lisle', but inside it's 'Linnet'. Her middle name is the same, but the reader isn't told of it till nearly the end. I'm glad the name got changed, because 'Lisle' is too close to 'Lyle' for me and that's just not the name of a Beauty level beauty. I've read in others' reviews that the other books in the series aren't as good AND that Eloisa James is known to be hit and miss for many readers, so I think that I might pick another of hers up if it was right there in front of me, but I won't be making any kind of effort to hunt it down.
June 20, 2025
the banter was next level
February 26, 2011
There are several homages pointed out in the historical note for this book, and a number of throwaway allusions that aren’t mentioned (notably the two doctors named “Kibbles” and “Bitts,”) but what I most noticed was a drawing room comedy style that made me think of writers like Oscar Wilde. It’s actually a bit exhausting at first, so many bon mots and dry turns of phrase, and I wondered how well it would hold up for an entire romance. Luckily the style calms down a bit when our heroine Linnet meets our hero Piers... or actually, calm down isn’t the right term at all. Because sparks definitely fly.
James made the most unexpected things work for me in this book. Historical anachronisms seemed charming; the bickering couple were delightfully engaged in an offbeat flirtation. This is one of those lovely, all too rare romances where the main characters spend lots of time together. For much of the book, Linnet wakes up to find Piers perched on her bed, poking at her things with his cane or dripping hot chocolate on her face, in a wonderfully friendly-enemy sort of way. (This improbable scenario in a historical romance is somewhat more plausible in context.)
I won’t bother going into the plot, but amongst all the other homages, the most obvious one of all -- to “Beauty and the Beast” -- seemed very weakly drawn and pointless at first. But James had a surprise in store, and I absolutely loved it.
This was an unique and uniquely engaging story. I keep thinking of a review of Robin McKinley (though not, unfortunately, of one of her two “Beauty and the Beast” rewrites): "Any book that, at one point or another, reminded me of The Sheikh, Gunga Din, Islandia, and The Lord of the Rings can't be anything but a true original." Come to think of it, any book that reminds you of "House," dogfood commercials, and Oscar Wilde could easily be the worst book ever written. Happily, it’s not.
James made the most unexpected things work for me in this book. Historical anachronisms seemed charming; the bickering couple were delightfully engaged in an offbeat flirtation. This is one of those lovely, all too rare romances where the main characters spend lots of time together. For much of the book, Linnet wakes up to find Piers perched on her bed, poking at her things with his cane or dripping hot chocolate on her face, in a wonderfully friendly-enemy sort of way. (This improbable scenario in a historical romance is somewhat more plausible in context.)
I won’t bother going into the plot, but amongst all the other homages, the most obvious one of all -- to “Beauty and the Beast” -- seemed very weakly drawn and pointless at first. But James had a surprise in store, and I absolutely loved it.
This was an unique and uniquely engaging story. I keep thinking of a review of Robin McKinley (though not, unfortunately, of one of her two “Beauty and the Beast” rewrites): "Any book that, at one point or another, reminded me of The Sheikh, Gunga Din, Islandia, and The Lord of the Rings can't be anything but a true original." Come to think of it, any book that reminds you of "House," dogfood commercials, and Oscar Wilde could easily be the worst book ever written. Happily, it’s not.
August 28, 2015
This was supposed to be a 5 star read. It had two things I love:
Beauty and the Beast
and House...
There's no way this could go wrong, right?
Right?!
Well, it actually didn't. The book is not bad, but it's not great either. One of the reasons I love House so much, is because it stays true to character until the very end... House doesn't have a fairy tale happy ending. It couldn't. House is a grouchy, unhappy person who loves sabotaging his relationships and alienating everyone who loves him.
In this case our House look-alike relents very quickly to the attentions of our fairBelle Linnet. And while he does act like an ass and sabotages the relationship, the problem is quickly solved in favour of a happily ever after.
*insert happy dreamily sighs here*
The End.
Beauty and the Beast
and House...
There's no way this could go wrong, right?
Right?!
Well, it actually didn't. The book is not bad, but it's not great either. One of the reasons I love House so much, is because it stays true to character until the very end... House doesn't have a fairy tale happy ending. It couldn't. House is a grouchy, unhappy person who loves sabotaging his relationships and alienating everyone who loves him.
In this case our House look-alike relents very quickly to the attentions of our fair
*insert happy dreamily sighs here*
The End.
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