
Beauty and Deceit
A Beauty and the Beast Faerie Tale Retelling
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Carol Beth Anderson
About this listen
Beauty and The Beast meets The Bachelor and The Selection.
Aeryn is hungry, perpetually exhausted, and short on hope. Ever since her merchant father lost everything to pirates, the 22-year-old has worked endlessly to meet the needs of her impoverished family. But it's never enough.
That all changes when a mysterious faerie invites her to a competition hosted by a Fae beast looking for a wife. Tor, the castle-dwelling creature, is wealthy enough to provide for Aeryn's family, and she's desperate enough to say yes.
The castle is beautiful, straight out of Aeryn's dreams. Tor is more suited to her nightmares, with his red eyes, long claws, and rat-like tail. But looks can be deceiving....
Then there are the other contestants, nine powerful faerie females. Aeryn is a mortal. How is she supposed to compete with their otherworldly beauty—and thwart the curse magic some of them wield?
The complicated situation quickly turns impossible for Aeryn. As her romance with Tor progresses, she also finds herself drawn to Wyatt, the castle gardener. He's nothing like the powerful Tor, yet Aeryn's feelings for him keep blurring the lines between friendship and attraction.
Winning Tor's heart is the only way Aeryn can save her family. But can she fend off the attacks of powerful faerie females, ignore her growing desire for Wyatt, and let herself fall for a monster?
If you like fairytale retellings, bookish heroines, love triangles, and a little bit of steam, you'll love Beauty and Deceit.
This story is romantic with mild steam. The intimacy is open door, but with minimal explicit detail. Written for NA (new adult) audiences, appropriate for ages 16 and up.
©2023 Carol Beth Anderson (P)2023 Carol Beth AndersonListeners also enjoyed...
-
Heart of Silk and Shadows
- Fae Isles, Book 0.5
- By: Lisette Marshall
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell, Kylie Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Agenor, Lord Protector of the Fae Isles and right hand of the Mother herself, doesn’t expect anything to still surprise him after twelve centuries of life. Finding a taunting note from an anonymous thief in his wardrobe is enough to rouse his curiosity, though. Enough to do the unthinkable—write back. Then he finds out he’s been exchanging letters with a humble human. Worse, a human challenging him to his face.
-
-
Reading order
- By Jessica Pierce on 05-11-24
By: Lisette Marshall
-
House of Beating Wings
- The Kingdom of Crows, Book 1
- By: Olivia Wildenstein
- Narrated by: Olivia King
- Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I'd never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well...by all but one.
-
-
this main character is intensely immature 🙄
- By Anonymous User on 06-01-23
-
Taken by Fate
- The Alpha Territories, Book 1
- By: Shannon Mayer
- Narrated by: Summer Roberts, Tyler Donne
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Plucked out of the Collector’s Pens, auctioned off to a vampire contingent, and sent across the ocean to the Alpha Territories was not exactly how I planned to spend my week. Actually, scratch that. I had planned the first bit. But I was supposed to be sold to the werewolves so I could save my friend from a fate worse than death. Instead, the bloodsuckers have me and so far? It's not going great. I've been shoved into a corset and made to look like an extra on the cast of Bridgerton, all to take part in the Harvest Games....
-
-
Just nope!
- By CLL on 10-30-22
By: Shannon Mayer
-
Crown of Shadows
- Court of Midnight and Deception, Book 1
- By: K. M. Shea
- Narrated by: Avery Caris, Charlie Thurston
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fae of the Night Court are desperately searching for a new monarch to crown before the Court collapses. I couldn’t care less. I’ve done everything I can to bury my fae blood and embrace my human half. That changes when some fae nobles show up on my doorstep and announce that I’m the next Queen of the Night Court. Becoming an unwilling fae queen? Check. Inheriting a terrible mess? Double check.
-
-
I seriously don’t have words.
- By Ashton Taylor on 03-30-23
By: K. M. Shea
-
Frost
- Frost and Nectar, Book 1
- By: C.N. Crawford
- Narrated by: Amanda Dolan
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the worst birthday of my life, I come home to find my boyfriend in bed with another woman. Within hours, I’m drunk, homeless, and pledging to stay single forever. And that is when the dangerously sexy Seelie King rolls through town, looking for fae like me.
-
-
Cliché after cliché and lack of creativity
- By Pen Name on 11-08-22
By: C.N. Crawford
-
Curse of the Wolf King
- A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (Entangled with Fae)
- By: Tessonja Odette
- Narrated by: Caitlin Davies
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
All Gemma Bellefleur wants is to leave her past behind and forget the day scandal broke her heart. But when she’s captured by a trickster fae king who threatens to hold her for ransom, she’ll find herself at the top of the gossip column yet again. Unless... Plagued by a curse that will soon claim his life, the human-hating King Elliot will do anything to save himself. And if Gemma can use that to her advantage, she might be able to bargain her way to freedom. All she has to do is help him break his curse.
-
-
A sweet retelling w/ decent plot twists & romance
- By Kel on 07-18-22
By: Tessonja Odette
-
Heart of Silk and Shadows
- Fae Isles, Book 0.5
- By: Lisette Marshall
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell, Kylie Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Agenor, Lord Protector of the Fae Isles and right hand of the Mother herself, doesn’t expect anything to still surprise him after twelve centuries of life. Finding a taunting note from an anonymous thief in his wardrobe is enough to rouse his curiosity, though. Enough to do the unthinkable—write back. Then he finds out he’s been exchanging letters with a humble human. Worse, a human challenging him to his face.
-
-
Reading order
- By Jessica Pierce on 05-11-24
By: Lisette Marshall
-
House of Beating Wings
- The Kingdom of Crows, Book 1
- By: Olivia Wildenstein
- Narrated by: Olivia King
- Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I'd never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well...by all but one.
-
-
this main character is intensely immature 🙄
- By Anonymous User on 06-01-23
-
Taken by Fate
- The Alpha Territories, Book 1
- By: Shannon Mayer
- Narrated by: Summer Roberts, Tyler Donne
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Plucked out of the Collector’s Pens, auctioned off to a vampire contingent, and sent across the ocean to the Alpha Territories was not exactly how I planned to spend my week. Actually, scratch that. I had planned the first bit. But I was supposed to be sold to the werewolves so I could save my friend from a fate worse than death. Instead, the bloodsuckers have me and so far? It's not going great. I've been shoved into a corset and made to look like an extra on the cast of Bridgerton, all to take part in the Harvest Games....
-
-
Just nope!
- By CLL on 10-30-22
By: Shannon Mayer
-
Crown of Shadows
- Court of Midnight and Deception, Book 1
- By: K. M. Shea
- Narrated by: Avery Caris, Charlie Thurston
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fae of the Night Court are desperately searching for a new monarch to crown before the Court collapses. I couldn’t care less. I’ve done everything I can to bury my fae blood and embrace my human half. That changes when some fae nobles show up on my doorstep and announce that I’m the next Queen of the Night Court. Becoming an unwilling fae queen? Check. Inheriting a terrible mess? Double check.
-
-
I seriously don’t have words.
- By Ashton Taylor on 03-30-23
By: K. M. Shea
-
Frost
- Frost and Nectar, Book 1
- By: C.N. Crawford
- Narrated by: Amanda Dolan
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the worst birthday of my life, I come home to find my boyfriend in bed with another woman. Within hours, I’m drunk, homeless, and pledging to stay single forever. And that is when the dangerously sexy Seelie King rolls through town, looking for fae like me.
-
-
Cliché after cliché and lack of creativity
- By Pen Name on 11-08-22
By: C.N. Crawford
-
Curse of the Wolf King
- A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (Entangled with Fae)
- By: Tessonja Odette
- Narrated by: Caitlin Davies
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
All Gemma Bellefleur wants is to leave her past behind and forget the day scandal broke her heart. But when she’s captured by a trickster fae king who threatens to hold her for ransom, she’ll find herself at the top of the gossip column yet again. Unless... Plagued by a curse that will soon claim his life, the human-hating King Elliot will do anything to save himself. And if Gemma can use that to her advantage, she might be able to bargain her way to freedom. All she has to do is help him break his curse.
-
-
A sweet retelling w/ decent plot twists & romance
- By Kel on 07-18-22
By: Tessonja Odette
-
A Deal with the Elf King
- By: Elise Kova
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella's village to be their Human Queen. To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark 19-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she's dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town's only healer. That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives...for her.
-
-
A big unanswered question.
- By MIdwest Suburban Family on 09-17-21
By: Elise Kova
-
The Night Circus
- A Novel
- By: Erin Morgenstern
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors.
-
-
Dreamlike Experience to Savor
- By Suzn F on 09-18-11
By: Erin Morgenstern
-
Sabriel
- By: Garth Nix
- Narrated by: Tim Curry
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since she was a tiny child, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back into that world.
-
-
Enraptured
- By T. HICKS on 06-20-09
By: Garth Nix
-
Spinning Silver
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father's inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty - until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk - grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh - Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered.
-
-
One of my favorite authors. Only 1 small complaint
- By R. W. Olsen on 11-30-18
By: Naomi Novik
-
A Witch in Time
- By: Constance Sayers
- Narrated by: Courtney Patterson, Claire Christie, Brittany Wilkerson, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Helen Lambert has lived several lives-a young piano virtuoso in 1890s Paris, an actress in 1930s Hollywood, a rock star in 1970s Los Angeles - only she doesn't know it. Until she meets a strange man who claims he's watched over her for centuries, bound to her from the beginning. At first, Helen doesn't believe him. Her life is as normal as any other modern career woman's. Then she begins having vivid dreams about ill-fated love and lives cut short. Caught in a curse, Helen will be forced to relive the same tragic events that ruined her previous lives.
-
-
Tired of Heroines’ Repeatedly Making Stupid Decisions
- By Neecie on 03-26-20
By: Constance Sayers
-
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
- By: Alix E. Harrow
- Narrated by: January LaVoy
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place. Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
-
-
A princess in a castle can't fend for herself
- By Summer on 11-11-19
By: Alix E. Harrow
-
The Kiss Quotient
- Booktrack Edition
- By: Helen Hoang
- Narrated by: Carly Robins
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with as well as way less experience in the dating department than the average 30-year-old. It doesn't help that she has Asperger's and that French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. She decides that she needs lots of practice - with a professional - which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.
-
-
music was loud and distracting
- By Martina N. Mendez on 12-31-18
By: Helen Hoang
-
The Cruel Prince
- The Folk of the Air, Book 1
- By: Holly Black
- Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
- Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him - and face the consequences.
-
-
Mixed feelings . . .
- By S. E. on 03-09-18
By: Holly Black
-
Radiance
- Wraith Kings, Volume 1
- By: Grace Draven
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Baker
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined.
-
-
An unexpected and awesome surprise!!!!
- By Sharon on 06-17-15
By: Grace Draven
-
Morrighan
- The Beginnings of the Remnant Universe (The Remnant Chronicles)
- By: Mary E. Pearson
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, MacLeod Andrews, Ann Marie Lee
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before borders were drawn, before treaties were signed, before wars were waged anew, before the great kingdoms of the Remnant were even born and the world of old was only a hazy slate of memory told in story and legend, a girl and her family fought to survive. And that girl’s name was Morrighan. Discover the origin story of the Remnant universe, penned by the New York Times-bestselling master storyteller Mary E. Pearson, in this swoon-worthy prequel, a romance for the ages, and a magic that stirs the heart.
-
-
Short and perfect
- By Brian K on 05-25-24
By: Mary E. Pearson
-
To Kill a Kingdom
- By: Alexandra Christo
- Narrated by: Jacob York, Stephanie Willis
- Length: 12 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of 17 princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most - a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian's heart to the Sea Queen and or remain a human forever.
-
-
Promises more than it delivers.
- By Bookworm on 03-11-19
-
Dreamer's Pool
- Blackthorn & Grim, Book 1
- By: Juliet Marillier
- Narrated by: Scott Aiello, Natalie Gold, Nick Sullivan
- Length: 17 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she'll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help. Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais.
-
-
Beautiful story, pretty solid narration
- By Anya on 11-19-14
By: Juliet Marillier
What listeners say about Beauty and Deceit
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marjorie
- 04-08-24
Thoroughly modern take on tale as old as time
Thoroughly modern take on tale as old as time. This was a fun story that poked holes in all the fallacies of both Bachelor type shows and BATB retellings. It starts with a very familiar take on BATB that puts our Beauty (in this case Aeryn) into the castle out of desperation for her father and love for her family. It quickly segues into a setup very reminiscent of one of those find love TV shows - complete with hidden cameras in the form of a secret the mirrors hold.
While the beginning is trope filled and often silly or catty as the competition progresses, the book gets a lot more depth and becomes more interesting - we begin to get to know the remaining contestants and their motivations. We learn more about the curse and how and why it was set, Aeryn begins to discover a lot about herself in trying to deal with this situation she finds herself in that changes her in ways she never imagined - or perhaps makes her more who she truly is.
The ending was amazing - this curse takes a whole lot more than just some "true love's kiss" to break! Which is probably a good things because there are a lot of really good kisses in this book and it would have been a shorter read if breaking the curse was that easy ;)
Read by the author - Carol Beth Anderson does an amazing job bringing her characters to life and is a joy to listen to!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- trufriends
- 08-06-23
twist on retell
Beauty and the Beast bachelor style, this story has Aeryn thrown into a competition to win the beast's (Tor) heart but along the way falls for Wyatt.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Laura
- 07-11-23
Amazing Fairy Tale Retelling
I was entertained by this creative re-imaging of the fairy tale of "Beauty and the Beast". I enjoyed the pun, by the use of the word faerie, instead of fairy. I was impressed by the extensive worldbuilding. I liked the characters. I liked the unexpected twists and turns that changed the original story, but still managed to keep some of the original elements also. Carol Beth Anderson's narration was great, and she brought her characters to life by providing each of them a voice. Her performance kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 08-04-23
Creative storytelling
I absolutely loved it. A Beauty and the Beast inspired story with a theme resembling The Bachelor mixed with magic and the fae. I wondered how it was going to progress when it was about halfway complete. I very pleasantly surprised and entertained with the continuation of the story. I wasn’t ready for it to end and lived every minute of it!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dimples
- 07-09-23
Freaking Fantastic 😍💋❤️🔥💞🤩🔥
Aeryn,Tor and Wyatt well they have an amazing and interesting story. Aeryn ends up in a bit of trouble that leads her to Tor's front door 🚪. She is the last contestant in a contest she just found out about. Tor is looking for someone to love 💞 him for who and what he is right now. Yet Wyatt has become content with his life the way it is right now. I'm glad 😊 she ended up with the right one in the end!!!!😍❤️🔥💋💕💘
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- alias11
- 08-21-23
Fun fairytale retelling full of intrigue, suspense
I enjoyed this fun fairytale retelling that was full of intrigue, suspense, betrayal, and love. I guessed many of the plot points early on, but it was still fun watching them play out. I wasn't sure how an HEA would happen with the FMC torn between what she "should" do versus what she wanted to do, but the ending was very satisfactory. I do feel a bit of wanting, still. It seems one of the major characters did not get an HEA, and I would like to see the author pen another story to make that happen.
I thought the author did an excellent job narrating the story! I have heard authors as narrators before who did a disservice by narrating their own audiobook. Ms. Anderson, however, gave the story and characters a full scope of emotions and voices. Very well done and enjoyable to listen to.
I enjoyed the story and will definitely listen to it again.
I received a free copy via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lyric1
- 07-20-23
Enjoyed
I am basing my rating on several points: world building, characters, plot, execution, and narration. I thought the world-building was done nicely, not so heavy-handed that it was pages of description, but given in small bites with enough detail to get a good sense of the story's world. The main characters were unique, and I was able to get a good feel for their words and actions (i.e., no one seemed to act grossly out of character). I found it difficult at a few points to stay sympathetic to the MC, and sometimes she was WAY too dramatic, but I believe some of that was in part an illustration of her youth and naivete (I'm hoping). The secondary characters were more like foils to the main characters, but they were still individuals with distinct characteristics. The plot was a fun take on the beauty and the beast trope, and I enjoyed anticipating what could happen with this sort of setup (sorry for being vague; I'm trying to make sure not to spoil any parts!). The executive of the plot was a little clumsy at times, but that could also be attributed to the character at those points, emphasizing their fumbling and uncertainty. Lastly, the narration was (I'll be honest) surprisingly good. Too often I've heard authors narrate their own work and it takes away from the overall enjoyment. However, Carol Beth Anderson handled the narration well and sounded like a pro (I didn't research if she is a pro narrator as well). The character's voices were distinct in sound, nuance, and even cadence, including the male voices. The pacing was good as well. Overall, this was a good listen. There were a few points where I experience second-hand anxiety so much I had to stop listening for a bit - in my opinion, that's a good listen when it can evoke actual emotional response.
I received an ARC of this audiobook and voluntarily chose to leave a review.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ink Spill Archivist
- 07-15-23
The Bachelor: Fae Edition
I received an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first time that I have listened to an audiobook narrated by the author. It was a superior experience. The narrator didn't have to guess how to pronounce the names or interpret the emotions. Anderson put so much heart into narrating which took the listening experience to a new level.
I always get nervous when a book claims to be like other books I've read because I set certain expectations and the book often falls short. This book met and exceeded those expectations. If Beauty and the Beast had a baby with The Bachelor, that would be this book. (I can't comment on The Selection. It's still on my TBR.) The author does an excellent job covering the typical controversial issues that are involved when a male dates multiple females. It's not all sunshine and insta-love.
This book is well written and is able to transport the reader into the story. The ending was exciting. I rooted for the romance. It made me feel giddy. This book had me smiling, laughing, and crying just a smidge, only because I was so enraptured by the characters' feelings. I also feared for the character when I thought it might nig work out for them. It was hard to stop listening to the audiobook because I was so hooked.
I felt like there was a decent amount of character develop for the FMC, which I always enjoy.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because it did have a personal trigger for me. Which, somewhat diminish my own enjoyment for a few chapters.
I recommend this book/audiobook to adults (18+) who want to read "The Bachelor" done in a whimsical fae setting.
This book contains: Relationships: f/m, f/f, and a male dating multiple women, bullying, violence, poverty, sexual content (both on and off the page)
-On page content has minimal detail.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David C Taylor
- 07-15-23
A delightful retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I was offered a review copy of the audiobook for Beauty and Deceit from the author but having read several of Carol Beth Anderson’s other books/stories I knew I would be entertained and most likely transported to a fantastical place.
I’m glad to say I was right on both counts, and I have to say I truly enjoyed this retelling of one of my childhoods fantasy tales. The author’s retelling of the story was done in such a way that it was not only a fresh take on the original, I found myself spell bound by the imagery she created. I also found myself questioning if the gardener and beast weren’t one and the same or if they were separate entities, and to avoid a spoiler, read or listen to this story and find out for yourself. Lately I’ve listened to a few books where the author narrates it themselves and in some cases, it is not as successful as I’m sure they hoped, but in this case, I believe Carol Beth Anderson’s intimate knowledge of the story makes her narration so much richer than it would have been with a different narrator.
If you enjoy fairy tales and enjoyed the original Beauty and the Beast, you really owe it to yourself to give this a listen, who knows you might not just get entertained, you may even get transported to a place in your life when things were so much simpler like this septuagenarian.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chad & Lori H.
- 09-01-23
Beauty and the BEAST fairytale retelling
I was captivated from chapter one. I absolutely loved this Beauty and the Beast retelling. The author was the narrator and she did an amazing job.(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) There was intrigue, magic, betrayal, suspense and Love. I loved competition that was like the bachelor. It had the perfect amount of twists and turns and spice(🌶️🌶️). The HEA is not the one you would expect. 😳 but it is the one you will hope for. I am a sucker for an adult retelling of a fairytale 🧚🏻♀️and this one was a knockout for me. I would recommend it to everyone who loves this genre. 🤌🏼 Bravo Carol Beth Anderson!! 👏🏼🫶🏼
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!