The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is honestly because of the steam factor. There was an incredible amount of sweetness, love, grumptastic caring, innocent joy, and the way they truly saw one another...all of that was fantastic and came together so beautifully that it needed Eli Easton's brand of sensual, soul-touching steam to balance it out and make it perfect. Think Redemption of River and Mating of Michael level of awesome, but without a ton of sexy times.
Aaron was so incredibly gruff and yet so charming with his "I'll show you, show you how much I want you gone...by buying you expensive work shirts and bringing you meals and spending time with you. *Hmph. Let that be a lesson to you." I loved him. His vulnerability felt real too, not just because of the physical disfigurement, but the weight he was carrying regarding what he couldn't remember and the grief over the loss of his father. His character was simple and yet still moving.
Finding his counterpart in the irrepressible Billy was sweet and fun because Billy couldn't find a way to stay mired in negativity despite his circumstances. It wasn't until the villain stuck their nose into things that he found a pain and hurt he hadn't yet truly experienced. Thankfully his indomitable will got the kick in the pants it needed by a little tea-and-chat session with their resident "witch". His discoveries meant a whole lot of freedom and I enjoyed seeing that bit come together.
The villain was very predictable, both in who they were, their motivations, and their methods. But even with all that predictability, it wasn't annoying. It was slightly over dramatic, but it fit with the tradition of big, dramatic confrontations marked in all fairy tales. Everything worked out, obviously, and the bad guy actually saw justice, amends were made, and Aaron finally found healing, confidence, and freedom. Thanks to Billy's heart and spirit they were both able to get the exact "ending" they deserved. I loved this story, it's my favorite of the series so far, and I can't wait to see what's next for this little town with its own brand of magic.
*$3.99 on Amazon
One stolen rose leads Billy to the Beast of his dreams...
The rose is so perfectly pink and delightfully fragrant, so temptingly within reach through the bars of the locked gate. One snip later, and a masked man from Billy’s darkest fantasies grabs his arm.
Billy’s punishment for the theft? To toil in the estate’s horribly overgrown garden for the summer. Only this summer job comes with a mystery. Who is the sexy, scarred, irascible man who lives at Malfleur, and what dark secret from his past is he hiding?
The Beast believes he deserves his self-imposed exile for the crime he committed one awful, reckless night—a night he can’t even remember. He believes no one can love the ruin of a man that survived that cursed accident.
He didn’t count on Billy Martin.
The rose is so perfectly pink and delightfully fragrant, so temptingly within reach through the bars of the locked gate. One snip later, and a masked man from Billy’s darkest fantasies grabs his arm.
Billy’s punishment for the theft? To toil in the estate’s horribly overgrown garden for the summer. Only this summer job comes with a mystery. Who is the sexy, scarred, irascible man who lives at Malfleur, and what dark secret from his past is he hiding?
The Beast believes he deserves his self-imposed exile for the crime he committed one awful, reckless night—a night he can’t even remember. He believes no one can love the ruin of a man that survived that cursed accident.
He didn’t count on Billy Martin.
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