Book Review: The Beauty's Beast

Author: E.D. Walker
Title: The Beauty's Beast
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Publish Date: Nov 2, 2010
Review Copy Provided By: The author/publisher and Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Lady Kathryn's father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn't bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn't realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.
The beast's too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn't count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.
As Gabriel and Kathryn grow to care for one another despite his horrific curse, rumors of an uncanny wolf reach the ears of Gabriel's former wife and her unscrupulous new husband, Reynard. Together, they plan to dispose of the king's pet, knowing if Gabriel ever regains his human form he could strip them of everything they have schemed so hard to gain.

Only Kathryn's affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when Reynard returns to court, will Kathryn's love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

Review: This is a wonderful retelling of Beauty And The Beast, using a werewolf spin.  The thing I found most enjoyable was that it was told in a light romantic way. This isn't a steamy erotic novel, which I think is wonderful. I've always found it better when fairy tails aren't tampered with too much.

E.D. Walker really made the characters in the story likable.  The wolf, Gabriel, is really the best. I liked that his point of view was told through his thoughts, rather than going a cheesy route and having the beast talk.  Lady Kathryn is a delightful character. Her fondness for the Gabriel in his wolf form really endeared her to me. I loved how she told him stories and spoke to him as if he were in his human form.

I really liked the spin Walker took on this classic fairy tale. It is really a sweet, cute story, and since it is part of the Sweetheart line at Noble Publishing, it is suitable for more readers. The Sweetheart line is comparable to Harlequin's Romance line. This is something that teens could read.

Rating: 4 flowers

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You can find out more about E.D. Walker @ http://heirtotheunderworld.com/