Shoshanna Evers is making a return visit today with her sexy re-imagining of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of this book along with my impressions of it and learn even more by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a signed print copy of this book along with a $10 bookstore GC too!
With her father’s freedom at stake, Belle agrees to be the fearsome Beast’s prisoner in his enchanted castle. Held as his willing captive, Belle must submit to the Beast’s most primal desires to survive.
The Beast can’t let his little Beauty go free, not while there’s still hope that she might be the one to end his decade-long curse…and with true love’s kiss, return him to the Prince he once was.
Their story is one that begins with imprisonment—he in his monstrous body, she in a dungeon—but without this predicament, Beauty would never have met the Beast.
So we shall begin with what occurred on that fateful night when everything changed: when a lover was betrayed, a man deformed, and a castle shrouded in an enchantment…
EXCERPT:
The Beast crept toward Belle, not wanting to frighten her by waking her, as he had done to Nadine that night so long ago. The memory of her screams of terror still filled his nightmares.
Belle’s long brown hair splayed around her head, one pale hand nestled under her cheek. Her plain blue dress was simple but form-fitting, as if she’d made it before she’d finished growing into her curves. The buttons at her neck were undone, leaving her collarbone exposed.
She was beautiful…no wonder they called her Belle. The girl certainly qualified to have a name that meant Beauty.
Beast leaned in closer to her, breathing in the warm, sweet scent of her skin. He couldn’t recall ever doing that to a girl when he was human—sniffing her. Maybe he had become more of an animal than he’d thought.
Belle stiffened, her brow creasing, her eyes squeezed shut.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Beast said softly.
She kept her eyes closed. “I’m scared,” she whispered.
“I won’t hurt you.”
“Don’t eat me.”
He smiled but composed himself, knowing a smile only looked like he was baring his fangs. If she chose to open her eyes when he was grinning at her, she’d probably run screaming.
“I won’t eat you, Belle,” he promised.
He’d never actually eaten a person, but it had seemed like a good threat when Henry Castelle was there. Now he wished he could take it back so she wouldn’t be so frightened to have him near her.
“Why are you here, then, if not to eat me?” she asked.
“I wanted to see you,” he admitted. “It’s been so long since I’ve had human contact.”
“How long?” she asked, keeping her eyes shut.
“Ten years.” He ran his fingers over her silky hair.
“What happened ten years ago?”
He couldn’t tell her, so he wouldn’t try. “I…changed.”
“Change back,” she whispered.
If only it were so simple. Perhaps she thought he’d been a nice beast who changed into a mean beast. He laughed, the sound coming out like a howl.
Belle whimpered, and Beast stopped laughing. He touched her cheek gently, running his hand across her smooth face, relishing the feel of her skin. She bit her lip to hold back a gasp.
“I’d like to change,” he said. “Maybe you can help me.”
“How?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman for company,” he said. “I want to touch you. Is that all right?”
Belle inhaled sharply, but she nodded.
“Why are you saying yes, if you’re afraid?”
“Because you’re so big,” she whispered, her eyes still shut. “I’m scared you’ll hurt me.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you,” he said. “You have my word. My only desire is to make you feel good right now.”
At that, she relaxed visibly, the crease leaving her forehead. Beast kept one hand against her cheek, and with his other hand, spanned the length of her body and gently touched her foot.
“Your feet are cold,” he said, holding them in one large hand to warm them.
“I am a bit chilled, sir.”
“It’s cold and dark down here in the dungeon,” he admitted. “I think you should have taken me up on my offer to sleep upstairs, in my bed.”
Belle moaned as he moved his hand up her leg to her knee, whether in fear or pleasure, he couldn’t tell. But she wasn’t stopping him.
Her blue dress lifted, leaving her thighs bare. She wore nothing underneath, and he could smell her feminine musk. The scent drove him wild with desire, but he forced himself to go slowly, to not frighten the girl.
Beast rubbed her thighs, warming her flesh. With a sigh, her legs parted ever so slightly, her body melting into the hay.
He reached the junction of her thighs, the one part of her body that threw off heat. His thumb rested on the tender bud he found, more beautiful than any rose in his garden.
“Have you ever been touched here?” he asked quietly, his voice thick.
Belle’s long brown hair splayed around her head, one pale hand nestled under her cheek. Her plain blue dress was simple but form-fitting, as if she’d made it before she’d finished growing into her curves. The buttons at her neck were undone, leaving her collarbone exposed.
She was beautiful…no wonder they called her Belle. The girl certainly qualified to have a name that meant Beauty.
Beast leaned in closer to her, breathing in the warm, sweet scent of her skin. He couldn’t recall ever doing that to a girl when he was human—sniffing her. Maybe he had become more of an animal than he’d thought.
Belle stiffened, her brow creasing, her eyes squeezed shut.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Beast said softly.
She kept her eyes closed. “I’m scared,” she whispered.
“I won’t hurt you.”
“Don’t eat me.”
He smiled but composed himself, knowing a smile only looked like he was baring his fangs. If she chose to open her eyes when he was grinning at her, she’d probably run screaming.
“I won’t eat you, Belle,” he promised.
He’d never actually eaten a person, but it had seemed like a good threat when Henry Castelle was there. Now he wished he could take it back so she wouldn’t be so frightened to have him near her.
“Why are you here, then, if not to eat me?” she asked.
“I wanted to see you,” he admitted. “It’s been so long since I’ve had human contact.”
“How long?” she asked, keeping her eyes shut.
“Ten years.” He ran his fingers over her silky hair.
“What happened ten years ago?”
He couldn’t tell her, so he wouldn’t try. “I…changed.”
“Change back,” she whispered.
If only it were so simple. Perhaps she thought he’d been a nice beast who changed into a mean beast. He laughed, the sound coming out like a howl.
Belle whimpered, and Beast stopped laughing. He touched her cheek gently, running his hand across her smooth face, relishing the feel of her skin. She bit her lip to hold back a gasp.
“I’d like to change,” he said. “Maybe you can help me.”
“How?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman for company,” he said. “I want to touch you. Is that all right?”
Belle inhaled sharply, but she nodded.
“Why are you saying yes, if you’re afraid?”
“Because you’re so big,” she whispered, her eyes still shut. “I’m scared you’ll hurt me.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you,” he said. “You have my word. My only desire is to make you feel good right now.”
At that, she relaxed visibly, the crease leaving her forehead. Beast kept one hand against her cheek, and with his other hand, spanned the length of her body and gently touched her foot.
“Your feet are cold,” he said, holding them in one large hand to warm them.
“I am a bit chilled, sir.”
“It’s cold and dark down here in the dungeon,” he admitted. “I think you should have taken me up on my offer to sleep upstairs, in my bed.”
Belle moaned as he moved his hand up her leg to her knee, whether in fear or pleasure, he couldn’t tell. But she wasn’t stopping him.
Her blue dress lifted, leaving her thighs bare. She wore nothing underneath, and he could smell her feminine musk. The scent drove him wild with desire, but he forced himself to go slowly, to not frighten the girl.
Beast rubbed her thighs, warming her flesh. With a sigh, her legs parted ever so slightly, her body melting into the hay.
He reached the junction of her thighs, the one part of her body that threw off heat. His thumb rested on the tender bud he found, more beautiful than any rose in his garden.
“Have you ever been touched here?” he asked quietly, his voice thick.
BUY LINKS: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Smashwords | Amazon UK | Goodreads
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Shoshanna Evers has become a master at re-imagining classic fairytales into steamy and evocative reads that give readers more than just sweet dreams. This latest release is no exception and puts a memorable modern-day spin on the classic Beauty and the Beast theme that we all know and love by amping up the sexuality.
The basic premise of this story remains the same but it's the characters that make this story unique. This time around Belle goes on a journey not only to learn to love the man behind the beast but also to learn about herself and embrace her sexuality. She becomes a woman under the Beast's seductive tutelage. From the start she's immensely likable, open minded, vibrant, and strong-willed in her convictions. She's leery of what the Beast offers her but she never backs down, which made her emotional evolution feel very contemporary.
The Beast has been stuck in his monstrous form for ten years when Belle's father enters his home and he's given the opportunity to lift his curse through Belle falling in love with him. The curse has wiped his existence from people's mind which has made him feel very isolated and even more beast-like. Having Belle in his home has him re-embracing his human side and becoming a more gentle man in his words and deeds. His journal gives us even greater insight into his character and his desire for true love and made him very endearing and had me rooting for his HEA.
Ms. Evers crafted a romantically atmospheric story that's vividly detailed in its depiction of man and beast. The steamy BDSM encounters were seamlessly woven in to the storyline to make them feel believable and intensified the burgeoning relationship between Belle and the Beast. These scenes were not only super hot but maintained their romantic qualities through the gentleness the Beast displayed throughout. With such compelling main characters and a sweat-inducing romance the only thing I found a bit disappointing were the secondary characters. With the exception of Belle's father, the secondary characters felt unnecessary and I wish their time had been devoted to Belle and the Beast instead as their romance held me captive. The ending too felt a bit rushed and open-ended. Ultimately, Ms. Evers has brought another wonderful fairytale to life and I look forward to what she has planned next!
My rating for this is a B+
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Critically-acclaimed author Shoshanna Evers has written dozens of sexy stories including Amazon Erotica Bestsellers Overheated, and Enslaved, Book 1 in the Enslaved Trilogy, as well as the post-apocalyptic dystopian Pulse Trilogy from Simon &a Schuster Pocket Star. Her work has been featured in Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and Best Bondage Erotica 2013, the Penguin/Berkley Heat anthology Agony/Ecstasy, and numerous erotic BDSM novellas including Chastity Belt and Punishing the Art Thief from Ellora's Cave Publishing.
The non-fiction anthology Shoshanna Evers edited and contributed to, How To Write Hot Sex: Tips from Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors, is a #1 Bestseller in the Authorship, Erotica Writing Reference, and Romance Writing categories on Amazon.
Reviewers have called Shoshanna’s writing “fast paced, intense, and sexual…every naughty fantasy come to life for the reader” with stories where “the plot is fresh and the pacing excellent, the emotions…real and poignant.”
Shoshanna used to work as a syndicated advice columnist and a registered nurse, but now she’s a full-time smut writer and a home-schooling mom. She lives with her family and two big dogs in Northern Idaho.
Sexily *Evers* After... ShoshannaEvers.com
Shoshanna Evers wants you to stay in touch!
Like erotic romance? Sign up for Shoshanna Evers’s mailing list to be notified when a new book releases (right side of the page!) http://www.
Visit ShoshannaEvers.com for monthly giveaways and red-hot excerpts!
Let’s be BFF’s!
TWITTER: @ShoshannaEvers
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/
BOOKS ON AMAZON: http://amzn.to/pGdgKD
BOOKS ON NOOK: http://goo.gl/MMgE9
The non-fiction anthology Shoshanna Evers edited and contributed to, How To Write Hot Sex: Tips from Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors, is a #1 Bestseller in the Authorship, Erotica Writing Reference, and Romance Writing categories on Amazon.
Reviewers have called Shoshanna’s writing “fast paced, intense, and sexual…every naughty fantasy come to life for the reader” with stories where “the plot is fresh and the pacing excellent, the emotions…real and poignant.”
Shoshanna used to work as a syndicated advice columnist and a registered nurse, but now she’s a full-time smut writer and a home-schooling mom. She lives with her family and two big dogs in Northern Idaho.
Sexily *Evers* After... ShoshannaEvers.com
Shoshanna Evers wants you to stay in touch!
Like erotic romance? Sign up for Shoshanna Evers’s mailing list to be notified when a new book releases (right side of the page!) http://www.
Visit ShoshannaEvers.com for monthly giveaways and red-hot excerpts!
Let’s be BFF’s!
TWITTER: @ShoshannaEvers
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/
BOOKS ON AMAZON: http://amzn.to/pGdgKD
BOOKS ON NOOK: http://goo.gl/MMgE9
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Nicely done review. I loved the excerpt from the book and can't wait to read it. So excited for u Shoshanna! Happy V-day :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting today, and for the lovely, thoughtful review! I'm thrilled you enjoyed Beauty and the Beast :) xo
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for being here and for your kind words! I enjoy your view of fairytales and can honestly say they've given me some very good dreams. What can you share with us about what's up next for you?
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
Wow. That excerpt makes me want to definitely read this book. At first with the name I was a little weary, but not anymore. I love that it's an erotic tale between Beauty and the Beast. Can't wait to read it. <3
ReplyDeleteLove the way you craft a good story! erotica + "fairy infestation" + HEA!!! :-)
ReplyDeletethe excerpt is so captivating; definitely going on my TBR list!
ReplyDelete