Taya Rune

My Review is for Broken Beauty
ARC received via Wildfire Marketing Solutions in exchange for a honest review.

The first thing about Broken Beauty to grab my attention was the cover. However, my decision to request a copy for review was due to it being a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A wonderful time was had with this interesting take on a well-loved fairytale.

New to me, author Catharina Mauer delivered a tale which hooked me from the very first page. It’s always nice discovering a new show more author and Mauer did not disappoint. I would definitely read more of her work.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast introduces to Felix and Arabella. Felix is the ruler of the Kingdom Eldiria and a powerful sorcerer. Known as the Shadow Emperor. A powerful leader, feared by all. However, no-one outside his kingdom knew of his curse. A curse which forced him to live in the shadows bathed in inescapable darkness. A prophecy revealed that the key to breaking the curse lay in Arabella, princess of Althea.

The ruler of the kingdom of Althea, Arabelle’s father, banned magic. Because of the ban, the people of Althea treated Arabella like a pariah because of her magical powers. Her father despised her, so it came as no surprise when he readily agreed for her to marry the Shadow Emperor. Arabella, however, will not give without a fight.

Felix and Arabella were interesting characters. At first, I feared for Arabella, recognising she was walking into the unknown. After all, Felix was rumoured to be evil. But the thing with rumours is most time they are created out of fear. After getting to know Felix, I recognised the fears were for naught. A true alpha who was caring, smart, fearless, protective, powerful and a fair leader.

Despite the abuse Arabella suffered at her father’s hand, it didn’t break her. It only made her determine to forge her own part. However, with her marriage to Felix, this may be difficult. But what she saw as a fate worse than death proved to be her saving grace.

The relationship which developed between the protagonists warmed my heart. Under Felix’s tutelage, she learned to harness her magic, making her more powerful than she could imagine. The story delivered moments, which made me laugh, broke my heart and had me cheering for the characters. The scene that had me cheering the most involved Arabella standing up to her father. Wow! Just priceless. The world building fascinated me, and I enjoyed spending time in this magical world. It was interesting learning about the origin of the curse and the impact it had on both Felix and his kingdom.

Broken Beauty was a beautiful story that enthralled the reader with its magical and romantic moments. Fans of fairy tale retelling and stories set in a world where magic reigns will love what Mauer offers in Broken Beauty. show less

I read Witch Switch by Louisa Bacio in this anthology.
This book was intriguing. Love, mystery, revenge…toss in hidden powers, unknown siblings and losing yourself and having to refind yourself, you have the makings of a good tale. This is a novella but the author didn’t quite leave us hanging. It is the start of a series. HOORAY! I can’t wait to read more. This was like a bad fairytale that you can root for good to win. Rafe, Cheyenne, and Jupiter can kick butt with the best of them. I show more loved the fact that Cheyenne and Jupiter are strong and can basically do things on their own (together-sister power), there’s another sister later in the story. The characters have strong personalities. Meredith may have evil powers yet she’s pretty much a spoiled brat not getting her way. The plot had a really good flow. The story wasn’t choppy. My favorite part was the scene in the forest. The whole tone of the story kept you on the edge of your seat. It’s a very romantic tale with some spice scattered throughout so there’s a little of everything for everyone (if you love romance). I think you need to buy this book and check it out. It’s a new favorite for me. show less

My review is for Beautiful Beast by Olivia Peters.

I absolutely love this retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Olivia Peters. This is not the story that us readers grew up on aka "Disney" version. Nope, this version is Showtime rated. I have read many books by Olivia, and they all bring the "steam", but I have to say this is by far the "steamiest" story of them all.

Adam was rough around the edges, but he was no match for Belle. She definitely won Adam over and that is when things really show more heated up. Not to say that the sexual tension before than was anything but HOT. If this is your first introduction to Olivia Peters, you are in for a great treat, and I can guarantee you will become a fan. show less

This family-friendly romance which touches on Instagram life, hoarding, and dementia, happens in Perth, Australia, and takes about two and a half hours to read. I had an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.