Beauty and the Beast (Fairy Tale Retellings, Book 1) by Rachel L. Demeter

Publisher & Release: Self-Published, March 15, 2017

Genre: Historical Romance/Fantasy

Book Length: 342 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A BEAST LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF HIS PAST

Reclusive and severely scarred Prince Adam Delacroix has remained hidden inside a secluded, decrepit castle ever since he witnessed his family’s brutal massacre. Cloaked in shadow, with only the lamentations of past ghosts for company, he has abandoned all hope, allowing the world to believe he died on that tragic eve twenty-five years ago.

A BEAUTY IN PURSUIT OF A BETTER FUTURE

Caught in a fierce snowstorm, beautiful and strong-willed Isabelle Rose seeks shelter at a castle—unaware that its beastly and disfigured master is much more than he appears to be. When he imprisons her gravely ill and blind father, she bravely offers herself in his place.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Stripped of his emotional defenses, Adam’s humanity reawakens as he encounters a kindred soul in Isabelle. Together they will wade through darkness and discover beauty and passion in the most unlikely of places. But when a monster from Isabelle’s former life threatens their new love, Demrov’s forgotten prince must emerge from his shadows and face the world once more…

Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty of the Beast brings a familiar and well-loved fairy tale to life with a rich setting in the kingdom of Demrov and a captivating, Gothic voice.

* * *

Beauty of the Beast is the first standalone installment in a series of classic fairy tales reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.

Disclaimer: This is an edgy, historical romance retelling of the classic fairy tale. Due to strong sexual content, profanity, and dark subject matter, including an instance of sexual assault committed by the villain, Beauty of the Beast is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Beauty-Beast-Fairy-Tale-Retellings-ebook/dp/B01MUGRH44

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34098873-beauty-of-the-beast

Vikki’s Musings

I’ve read several other books by Rachel L. Demeter, so when I received an offer from her to read and review Beauty and the Beast I accepted. Because this is based on such a well-known story, I am not going to do a synopsis.

This is a darker take on the fairy tale. The plot is what I would expect with several intriguing twists. Ms. Demeter’s characterization of Isabelle and Adam is excellent, and her depiction of the villain is perfect. The pacing is steady and did not drag in the least. I remained entertained from the beginning to the end.

Isabelle’s character is just as enchanting in this version of the story as in the original. She loves her papa and is gentle and kind to all. She is tolerant of her step-sisters and shows great concern for them, even though, they are not nice to her at all.

Adam is the typical beast of a character who softens as he grows to care for the heroine. By the end of the story, he is a true hero and is truly worthy of Isabelle’s love.

Personally, I found the writing a bit overly dramatic at times, which pulled me from the retelling several times. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book and can recommend it to those who love fairy tales with a twist. Happy reading!

A Kindled Winter by Rachel L. Demeter

Publisher & Release Date: Black Lyon Publishing,

Time and setting: Present Day, Blue River, Oregon

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Length:  138 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

A week before Christmas, Jeseca Reed sets off for Blue River, Oregon - her childhood home and a vault of tender memories. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when she's left stranded in the mountains' vast, untamed wilderness. Desperate and alone, she seeks shelter at a cottage and finds herself in the arms of a mysterious stranger.

Dr. David Drake was once a renowned cardiovascular surgeon. But a devastating tragedy has left him scarred both inside and out, unable to use his hands to operate again. For the past five years, his Blue River cottage has been his sole escape - a safe haven where he can shut out the world, bury himself in his grief, and reunite with his son's memory.

Together they are summer and winter. Fire and ice. And yet a poignant connection forms between them. Jeseca awakens David and thaws his heart with a romance hot enough to melt snow. But before David and Jeseca can fully embrace each other, they must wade through darkness and confront the ghosts of their pasts ...

               

Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, A Kindled Winter brings the spirit of the holidays to life with a passionate story of second chances and healing love.

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0150FMNT0?keywords=a%20kindled%20winter&qid=1447770668&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26221419-a-kindled-winter

Vikki’s Musings

I have read other books by Rachel L. Demeter and enjoyed them. When she asked me if I wanted to read and review A Kindled Winter, in exchange for an honest review, I agreed. Since I like Christmas stories, I couldn’t wait to start this one. This is not your typical warm and fuzzy, light-hearted Christmas story.

Jeseca Reed is on the way to her mother’s house to enjoy the holidays with family. While traveling there, the weather becomes treacherous. She feels the car slide and unable to steer through it, she hits a tree. The car dies, and she is stranded. With her brow bleeding and her head spinning, she struggles to make it to a cottage she’d recently passed.

Dr. David Drake is a recluse, ever since he lost his child in a fire, leaving him scarred for life. When a young woman collapses on his front porch, he has no choice but to bring her in and care for her. With no phone service and the weather, they spend a week together.

When passion flares between them, Jeseca and David want to deny it, but these two tormented souls find common ground. Can they open their hearts and let love cleanse their souls?

This is a story that will pull at your heart strings, and at times, bring tears to your eyes. Not only are David’s hands so scarred from the fire that he can no longer perform surgery, his heart is frozen because of the loss of his son. The child’s room has remained the same. I truly felt David’s anguish every time he remembers his son, touched his toys and recalls the child’s delight at their last Christmas together. His character gained my sympathy and I truly loved David and so wanted him to find the light.

Jeseca’s character also has heart ache. She has lost her twin sister and feels as if part of her soul is gone. When she shares her story with David, I’ll admit, tears filled my eyes. Jeseca is a wonderfully complex heroine, and I loved her from the first page.

Since this is not a sweet Christmas story because of the hero and heroine’s tortured pasts, Ms. Demeter gives this reader some light-hearted moments with David’s goofy looking dog, Brody. Since this entire book really only has two character and the dog, normally that does not work well, but the author handles this so well, I never felt the need to have any secondary characters.

If you’re looking for a Christmas read with more than fluff, then A Kindled Winter is one you will love as much as I did. I suggest you read this one. You will not regret it. Happy reading!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Today I am featuring Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter, a wonderful novel set in 1815, France. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and if you would like to read my review, then you will find it on Goodreads and Amazon. Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter drawing!

Historical Romance

Date Published: eBook - August 27, 2015 / Paperback - September 24, 2015

Published By: Momentum (Pan Macmillan)

Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.

After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon's army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.

But fate has a different plan.

Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she's moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.

Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah—and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah's own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts—or will the cycle of history repeat again?

Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley's Lord of Ice and Judith James's Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.

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EXCERPT

Ariah stood beneath the immeasurable night sky as she admired the breathtaking view. She lost herself within the constellations, allowing those luxurious diamond strands to coil around her heart. Numberless stars reflected within the Seine’s glassy surface and set the water afire. Breathing deeply, Ariah reached out and folded her hands atop the stone balustrade.

This is where she’d found him. Her heart picked up speed as memories of that fateful night invaded her mind and body. Down below, water lapped against the embankment and infused the atmosphere with a soothing lull. A flashback of Gabriel’s motionless form materialized within the shadows . . . and Ariah’s chest constricted as she relived his every kiss and touch.

Then –

A gentle pressure whispered against her back. Gabriel’s unique aroma filled her spirit while strong arms enfolded her from behind. Somehow, some way, she’d known he’d be here tonight.

She sighed deeply and relaxed within his protective embrace. One hand lost itself in her curls and delicately sifted through the strands; the other applied subtle pressure to the base of her spine in a ghostlike caress. Breathless and at peace, she spiraled into a decadent trance. She drank in each sensation . . . the mesmerizing caress of his fingertips against her scalp, the wind’s crisp breath, the Seine’s haunting lamentations . . .

Gabriel brushed away the swarm of curls, exposing her ear to the night, and breathed against the fine cartilage. This was the moment she’d feared for weeks – the moment of their parting. Then he sang to her – his voice rich, warm, and sultry, and all other thoughts fell away.

“The gentle breath of winter sings,

It cools my brow and furls my wings.

And when the dusk at last descends,

I shall keep my hope, steel my heart, for never will thy love depart.

Now you are come all my grief is gone,

Let us forget those nights that never dawned.”

The rich cadence of his voice seduced her into calmness. Fighting to hold back tears, she rotated in his arms, never once leaving the security of his embrace. Indeed, she’d stay with him until the very end – and they wouldn’t part a moment sooner. She tilted her chin up and met his expressive gaze. The nearby oil lamp shone brightly behind Gabriel, silhouetting his strained features. She directed his body to the side, needing to see his eyes, directing the shadows from his face.

“You remember.”

Gabriel shook his head while a riot of emotions crossed his features. “I shall never forget.”

About the Author

Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.

Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.

Contact Links

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Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter

Published & Release Date: Self-published, August 27, 2015

Time and setting: 1815, Paris, France  

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 415 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.

After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon's army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.

But fate has a different plan.

Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she's moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.

Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah - and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah's own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts - or will the cycle of history repeat again?

Buy Link:

Momentum Website: http://momentumbooks.com.au/books/finding-gabriel/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YLWA044

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25659511-finding-gabriel

Vikki’s Musings

When I read the book description for Finding Gabriel, I found it intriguing. I always enjoy dark dramas with plenty of passion. I am glad I agreed to accept this book in exchange for an honest review. Finding Gabriel gave me a glimpse of what it felt like to be in France between the Treaty of Fontainebleau and Bonaparte’s escape from Elba. I have read a great many regency novels set during this time, but only a few set in France.

Ariah stumbles upon Gabriel at the edge of the river Seine with one side of his face destroyed. With the help of her sister, they pull him inside her house. Little does she know, this stranger will change her life forever.

When Gabriel awakens to discover he is still alive, he believes he sees an angel. Although, he soon discovers his angel is a flesh and blood woman. As she nurses him back to health, he falls irrevocably in love with Ariah and her sweet little daughter.

Is it possible for two damaged souls to find a love that can heal their troubled spirits, or will circumstances tear them apart?

This book had me sitting up straight and taking notice from the first page. I love it when a novel drops me into the middle of either action or intense passion and this one did both. The pacing is quite good for most of the book, and the unfolding romance between Ariah and Gabriel is very satisfying, keeping me vested in both their characters.

Ariah’s character is captivating, and I fell in love with her right away. Her fearless determination and willingness to risk bringing a stranger into her home is actually astonishing, considering her past history. I shall not give any details, but her trust in men was defiled at a very young and impressionable age. Not only is her character compassionate, she is also a very nurturing friend and mother.

Gabriel’s character starts out in deep despair, to the point he places a flintlock pistol in his mouth and pulls the trigger. At first when he discovers his suicide attempt failed, he is angry, but as he gets to know Ariah, he realizes she did him a great favor by saving his life. His story is one of redemption. I felt his pain over the loss of his family and the guilt he experienced because he wasn’t able to save them.

I did have a couple of issues with Finding Gabriel. I would have liked to know more of what drove him to such despair so many years after he lost his family, more of the tragedy of battle, loss of comrades, whatever it was. There were several instances where Ms. Demeter’s word choices pulled from the story. She has Ariah’s tongue dueling with Gabriel’s in a passionate tango. The tango is a dance that became popular in late 19^th century, well after the period of history this book is set in. Also surreal is a twentieth century word.

Nonetheless, the few problems were minor and did not take away from my reading enjoyment. If you are looking for a story filled with deep emotion and a beautiful love story, then you will enjoy Finding Gabriel as much as I did. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.

Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.

Don't be a stranger! Rachel loves to connect and interact with her readers. 



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