Tuesday, February 04, 2020

The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard

Title: The Beast of Beswick
Author: Amalie Howard
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Everleigh Sisters #1
Mass Market Paperback, 380 pages
Publication: November 26, 2019 by Entangled: Amara
Source: Personal Library

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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.


Beauty and the Beast has been retold and reimagined many times in various types of media but as a fan of the story; I never tire from seeing others’ interpretation or spin. In its latest reincarnation, Howard brings the classic fairytale to historical romance readers with a headstrong heroine looking to protect her younger sister and a scarred war hero duke who feels too broken for love and society. In my pursuit to read more romance and novels outside my go-to genre; Beast of Beswick is my 2nd romance novel of 2020 and it was fabulous…and steamy!

The Regency era has always been a favorite time period of mine, so it isn’t a surprise that I found myself instantly immersed in the setting and the Everleigh sisters’ lives. Our heroine Astrid is incredibly brilliant, independent and beautiful with a heart of gold but due to an unfortunate coming out season at sixteen and a despicable Earl, Astrid’s reputation gets tarnish leaving her unwed and a ‘spinster’ at the young age of twenty-five. But with Astrid’s younger sister Isobel’s season fast approaching and her only living relatives eyeing their inheritance and dowry; Astrid is willing to do anything to keep her Uncle’s clutches off pawning Isobel off to the next rich Earl. Even it means marrying the Beast of Beswick.

If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, then you have a pretty good idea at how the story goes/ends. Thane, our hero is very flawed; emotionally and mentally. Which I find as a good thing. It made him more realistic and relatable and more times than not I found myself feeling sympathetic with him. Although he is scarred on the outside physically, the real scars were within. The only beastly thing about Thane was his incorrigible nature and saying the first thing that came to mind. I loved Astrid and Thane as a couple and enjoyed their ever-entertaining banter. While their relationship began under less than ideal circumstances, I loved seeing their relationship grow from unbridled disdain/curiosity turn to friendship/love.

I adored The Beast of Beswick, it’s exactly everything I was hoping a fairytale retelling romance would be…and so much more. This is the start of the Everleigh Sisters series and I am so stoked for the sequel with of course features Astrid’s younger sister Isobel who is as much as a firecracker as her sister. If you’re looking for a well-written and engaging story with a fairytale twist, I recommend picking-up The Beast of Beswick!





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