The Bride and the Beast

I can't imagine why it took me so long to read this book! Right up my alley. The heroine is insecure about being chubby, which her sisters (and others) torment her about. But she is smart and independent and funny. The tormented hero shows her how desirable she is. His mysterious identity add a great bit of angst to the tale. I'll be reading more of Medeiros, I hope her other books play to my tastes so well!

The bride is Gwendolyn Wilder, the only maiden in a Scottish glen where most of the time virginity is only a memory at 15; the beast is Bernard MacCullough, laird of the glen who has returned to his broken-down castle to find out which of the villagers of Ballybliss betrayed his parents to the English. Bernard has kept his people away from Castle Weyrcraig by pretending to be the “Dragon.” He and his best buddy, Tupper get their provisions by sending threatening shopping lists to the village. The mention of "innocent blood" in one message leads the frightened glen folk to tie Gwendolyn to a stake in the castle courtyard, in case the Dragon has a taste for virgins...which seem to be in short supply in the village. Bernard cuts her show more down and gives her room and board. He’s afraid that if he lets her go, she’ll reveal and upset his plans for revenge. As the Dragon visits her under cover of darkness, so that she won’t recognize him, Gwendolyn falls in love with him. I guess scales don't bother her all that much. He doesn’t seem to mind that she’s a bit on the chubby side. He likes her curves, her spirit, and her intelligence, which also seems a bit lacking in this village. Before she gets a chance to offer him her virginity, though, the villagers return to slay the Dragon themselves. To save Gwendolyn’s life, Bernard reveals himself to his people. Heartbroken when she learns that her "sexy beast" (her word) ...is just another guy, she's angry, disappointed, relieved, all, in equal measures, then she rushes home, where she has spent much of her life tending to her mad father, who the traitor Bernard has been searching for. When he learns her secret, Bernard tells Gwendolyn he’ll spare her dad if she’ll marry him. After an awkward few words and a couple of chapters that they declare their love, and Gwendolyn's virginity, or now lack of, is no longer a problem, the couple move quickly to happy-ever-after. I've read some of Teresa Medeiros' "witchy" romances which she does really well. Fairy tales, dragons, and virgins????...not bad but not really her best. show less

I can't imagine why it took me so long to read this book! Right up my alley. The heroine is insecure about being chubby, which her sisters (and others) torment her about. But she is smart and independent and funny. The tormented hero shows her how desirable she is. His mysterious identity add a great bit of angst to the tale. I'll be reading more of Medeiros, I hope her other books play to my tastes so well!

As a child Gwendolyn had fallen (literally LOL!) for the young lad who would one day be laird of her clan, Bernard MacCullough. But, when the English came to destroy the castle and everyone in it, the small province of Ballybliss gave their laird up without a fight, bringing a curse upon the townspeople and breaking young Gwendolyn's heart. Now, years later, a dragon has come to the destroyed manor demanding retribution and payment from the townspeople for their past sins. In an attempt to atone the townspeople decide to give up what they think the dragon would want the most, an innocent maiden. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn is the only maiden in town and promptly finds herself tied to a steak in a courtyard ruled by a monster.

This was, show more overall, a very entertaining little tale. There are many simple little mysteries that we can guess at over the course of the book and even when I was proven right, it was more of a satisfying feeling than frustration that I knew what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the dragon and his past with Gwendolyn and even though Gwendolyn kind of went on a bit about her weight, I found her interesting as well. It is unusual to have a "woman of size" in a romance novel and being one myself, I have to say it adds an interesting slant. I enjoyed the side characters, even the obligatory animal, and thought the story, while predictable, was certainly a worthwhile historical romance. show less

** spoiler alert ** Another hilarious read from Teresa Medeiros. I'm lucky that Medeiros has intriguing cover images because if she didn't I probably wouldn't have ever picked it out of the large box of books I got it from. If I hadn't I would have missed out on a delightful read.

Gwendolyn Wilder has lived with a life long crush, since before the age of nine she has wanted no one other than Bernard MacCullough when she believed him dead the year she turned nine, she was devastated and never really m...more Another hilarious read from Teresa Medeiros. I'm lucky that Medeiros has intriguing cover images because if she didn't I probably wouldn't have ever picked it out of the large box of books I got it from. If I hadn't I would have show more missed out on a delightful read.

Gwendolyn Wilder has lived with a life long crush, since before the age of nine she has wanted no one other than Bernard MacCullough when she believed him dead the year she turned nine, she was devastated and never really moved on. She hid her nose inside books, covered her body in drab clothes and let the world criticize her weight. She even believed they were right and that she in some way deserved their insults while her beautiful, thin, promiscuous sisters deserved their attention. She was the smart reliable sister, who took care of their addled and aging father and did what needed to be done.

When the town becomes plagued by what the residents believe is a real life fire breathing dragon making demands upon their village it is Gwendolyn they turn to read his demand notes. And it is Gwendolyn they decide to offer as a virgin sacrifice when they are unable to meet his hefty demands.

Bernard MacCullough had his life stolen from him at the age of fifteen when his clan betrayed their laird, his father for one thousand pounds in gold. Since that day when he saw his parents slaughtered by the English before his eyes for offering sanctuary to the Bonnie Prince, while the clan they led cowered in fear, locked away safe in their homes he has wanted naught but revenge. Taken prisoner and forced into service for the Royal Navy he's made his own lot in the world without even his name to guard him.

Fifteen years after that fateful day when his dreams burned before him, Bernard is back and he will have his revenge on the town who betrayed his family. He will learn who traded his parents lives for a mere thousand pounds in gold. What he didn't plan on was the beautiful virgin sacrifice that was left on his doorstep as an offering when the traitor in their midst wouldn't give up his gold to save his town. She had the power to ruin everything for only she knew he was not a beast, but a man and only she had the power to unlock his heart.

The interplay of these two stubborn characters is not one to be missed as you join them on their journey of letting go of the past to embrace the future, and opening their hearts to fall in love. He gives her the confidence to see the beauty she's hidden away and she gives him the light he's hidden from for fifteen years. She gives him a person he can trust which is something he's not had for fifteen years. They argue and thwart each other at every turn, keeping a reader turning the pages and laughing at their antics.

It's a definite must read. show less

As this seemed to be wrapping up I thought I might give it a 2.5 and round up to 3. But it kept going on and on so I checked my audiobook and there was like another 2 hours to go. And none of it was particularly necessary. Both leads do a few more daft things, I was just entirely over it by the end. I went in thinking this would be a Beauty and the Beast variation, but it ended up being more Cupid and Psyche, which, to be fair, isn't quite as interesting to me. But oh well. This was my first by this author, and I would still try another sometime.

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a few interesting twists. The "beauty" is a full-figured woman who doesn't think of herself as pretty, let alone beauty. The "beast" turns out to bear all his scars on the inside.