Elizabeth Adams, a former maid of the evil sin collector Frederick Dodsworth, is sent to the isolated town of Ravenston to be the servant of notorious duke Nicholas Wellington -- nicknamed "The Beast" because of his bad temper and scars that have disfigured him from a fire. Nicholas makes a deal with Mr. Dodsworth: the name of the person who set the fire in exchange for making Elizabeth's time at Ravenston a living hell.
After seeing what he's capable of, Nicholas fears he has truly become the beast he is rumored to be and tries to make the consequences of his horrible actions up to Elizabeth somehow. Spending time with her causes feelings he'd long forgotten, and he finds himself falling for the gently beauty. He can't let that happen, however, because he has to know who set the fire. He has to know who to punish. And he has to atone for his part in his wife's death.
Years old lies are revealed.
Secrets are uncovered.
And one man has to choose between the family he desires and the revenge he's waited so long for.
After all, a beast is always a beast.
1. Eat Dark Chocolate Almonds
*I can't tell you how many packs of these awesome things I went through while writing this book. When I think of The Beast-- I think of dark chocolate almonds. It adds to the atmosphere, you know...
*crunch, crunch*
2. Listen to some Metallica on youtube (or spotify or wherever) More specifically, Unforgiven II. It might possibly be what I listened to-- loudly-- while writing it. {because nothing says fairy tale retelling like Metallica ;) }
3. Fall in love with Mr. Dodsworth
Okay... so... he's NOT the beast and he's a mean, mean man, but he's also my favorite character-- possibly ever ;) Mr. Dodsworth is the glue that holds the 'Shattered Fairy Tale' series together. He's a 'sin collector' and uses what he knows to hurt (aka get revenge) on other people. BUT, in his mind, he is the hero of the story-- Read Cloaked in Red and see if you feel the same way ;)
4. The Library Scene.
*Because it is based on Beauty and the Beast... there HAS to be a library scene. Look forward to that. *Hewboy.*
5. Love Mrs. Rutherford
*I mean you don't HAVE to love her... but she is based on my mother (except she looks nothing like my mother-- okay, she has the same NAME as my mother). AND, she possibly has the biggest secret of all.
There you have it. The five things you need to do while reading The Beast of Ravenston. When you are finished, I'd love to know your thoughts. Reviews are awesome. Or you can message me. I'm a friendly gal.
Happy Reading!!!
He allowed her feet to touch the floor and, without breaking contact with her lips, walked her backward until her back hit the bookcase. Nicholas wrapped his hands around her hips and lifted her off the ground, and Elizabeth’s legs wrapped around him. He raised her hands against the bookcase and held them over her head. Ache and need filled him, and he just wanted to take her. He could. He knew he could. No one would ever know. No one would know, and, by the way she reacted to him, she wanted it too.
Nicholas took both of her wrists in one hand, and with the other, he ran it up her leg, past her knee and toward her hip. Her back arched under him, and he, for the first time, released her lips.
She breathed as heavy as he. She looked at him with the same intensity he felt. She wanted him. Beyond all reason known to man, she wanted him. How could she want him after everything he’d done? After what he was? How could she?
Elizabeth’s lips were red and swollen from the fierceness of his kiss, and reason came back to him. What was he doing? He had her like a common whore against the wall in his library. He had his hand almost on places men should only be allowed on their wedding night. He had her wrists in his, and he wanted her more than any woman in his life.
The music ended, but he did not want to let her go.
Kelly Martin is a bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and YA romance. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When she's not writing, she loves watching horror gamers on YouTube-- even though she's a huge wimp-- and drinking white chocolate mochas. She's a total fangirl, loves the 80s and 90s, and has a sad addiction to a certain British boy band (shhhh). Her favorite characters are the 'bad guys'-- especially those who, in their mind, are the heroes of the story. She loves helping her characters fight for their ever after.
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