ABOUT THE BOOK

Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew in this laugh-out-loud and heartfelt Regency romance.

Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it’s hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies—with lips better suited to kissing than speaking—who brave his castle with indecent proposals.

But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of—a tender of marriage with her as his bride.

MY REVIEW

Who can resist a beauty and the beast story? Certainly not this reader. Yet another fantastic book has been added to my 2019 favorite books list.

She blinked, an outrageous idea blossoming. It would solve everything. It was a dreadful, desperate plan, but it was something. It was a chance. At five and twenty, she was well on the shelf, but she wasn’t dead. She might be ruined in the eyes of the ton, but she had a sound brain, she’d been raised to run an aristocratic household, and she was the daughter of a viscount. It could work. It could work. She would just have to marry a different kind of beast than the earl to save her sister. And she knew just the man.

The beautiful and headstrong Lady Astrid Everleigh is desperate to save her sister from the same ruin she encountered 10 years ago. Astrid’s last-ditch effort is to ask the formidable and scarred Beast of Beswick, Lord Thane Harte, to marry her so he can approve or deny anyone who asks for her sister’s hand in marriage, but his answer is unexpected.

Wow! I adore the robust and provocative repartee between Astrid and Thane. They both have been censured in society which has left them vulnerable and alone, but as a couple, they could conquer anything if they would only open their hearts. Astrid’s ability to match Thane’s rath and ardor is fascinating to read and the love scenes will leave you breathless. I have two favorite supporting characters, Aunt Mabel and Fletcher. Thane’s feisty Aunt Mabel is another feminist before her time, has an active sex life of her own, and lovingly embroiders phalluses as a hobby. Thane’s valet, Fletcher, is a cunning and quick-witted servant who always has his Grace’s best interests in mind.

This historical romance had me enraptured from the start and I declare I am a new fan of Ms. Amalie Howard and can’t wait to read more of her books.  Recommend highly!

Thank you to Ms. Howard for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amalie Howard is the bestselling, award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection highlighting East Indian mythology. She is a national IPPY silver medalist and Children’s Moonbeam Award winner. She is also the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and historical fiction, My Rogue, My Ruin and My Hellion, My Heart, in the Lords of Essex historical romance series. Of Indian and Middle Eastern descent, she grew up in the Caribbean but currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Follow Amalie on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.