The Beauty And The Wolf
The Cursed Princes
Marina Myles
Kensington
E book
Published June 2013
233 Pages
Shifter Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-1-6018-3099-9
Author’s Website
A Union Of Curses
Isabella Farrington’s marriage was hasty. For all her new husband’s riches, Lord Draven Winthrop is whispered about, avoided, and feared. Yet Isabella is drawn to Draven’s dark good looks, his strength, the charm he can turn on as easily as she can blink. The impoverished daughter of an Egyptologist, she knows there are rumors about her, too, and the amulet she wears. Nothing more than superstitious babble…
But when Isabella returns to Draven’s remote coastal manor, she senses there is something more at work in the grim gardens of Thorncliff Towers than superstition. Draven is passionate and seductive, but he has a brutal, uncontrolled side too, and a history of secrets. To live in peace she must discover the reasons behind a gypsy curse and a mother’s scorn. Especially when she learns Draven believes his sweet young bride is doomed to a fate even darker than his own…
My Review
When I went on Netgalley to get this copy, I was really excited, because the synopsis sounds way good, and I had heard good things about it. This is the first book by this author, that I know of, and oh boy I was IMPRESSED!!! She has been bumped up my list of favorite authors, I just wished that she had more books out, because I just thought the Beauty and the wolf was a astounding read with a intense plot and enriching characters that lifted my spirits, and made me feel alive. So its coming out this week, so when it does….you HAVE to read this…its a MUST!!! You won’t regret it.
Draven and Isabella have courted and married. Isabella didn’t have much choice, with being a governess she had little option but to marry a man that is rumored to be mad. Draven had spent many years in the asylum, having thought that he was really cursed. Draven many years ago made a mistake that cost him his life and happiness. He knows that he is cursed, to spend every month under the moon, to turn into something wild and bloodthirsty. When he marries Isabella, he ends up feeling himself turn on their wedding night, and scaring her into leaving. Now two years later Isabella wants children, and with little money, goes back to her husband, so she can have security for herself and her father, and children. Only she has one problem—seduce a man that keeps resisting even though she knows he wants her. Even though Isabella knows that there is something scary and fierce about Draven, she senses something good and pure in him. There is also a part of him that terrifies her, and she doesn’t know what he really is. Even though she finds herself falling in love with him, she feels that he is keeping a huge secret from her that could change their relationship. Draven is terrified into what this curse is turning him into. He feels the curse changing who he is, and now that he has found Isabella again, she represents everything good in the world, and he wants her more than air. But he wonders if this curse could destroy them both.
Draven is one of my favorite heroes, the emotional tortured kind. I really liked his strength of character, and even though there is a wild nature to him, he also has a good heart that is very evident. I enjoyed seeing how tender and feeling he is toward Isabella. He isn’t too bitter with her, more with himself. He is a bit brooding, and stubborn but I enjoyed how rich his character was, and very intense at times. Isabella isn’t exactly the most trusting, but I understood her side of things. I admire her strength especially when it seemed that Draven could be pretty scary. She tended to deal with it pretty well.
A very well written retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. I found this one to be well done and in some ways very similar to the actual tale, but there were certain differences that added a certain flair of originality. One other aspect that I loved was that it was set in a historical setting–which isn’t very common. I found it to be a fun setting for the plot. It does have a bit more of a Gothic edge to it, but I thought that was one of the positive elements to the story. Intensely packed filled romance with adventure, mystery, curses, dark paranormal elements and a exciting edge that will have you from beginning to end. Very Impressed!!! I can hardly wait for the second one to come out later this year!!
First Line
I am getting married today.
Favorite Quote
“I love you, heart and soul,”
My Grade
5 Blossoms
Heat Rating
Steamy
Other Books In Series
Snow White and the Vampire (December 2013)
Addicted To Romance 