Overview

After losing his wife, job, and home, Freddy Holmes and his children pack their bags and move to Meadow Lake, Wisconsin to live with his parents. One night, during a snowstorm, Freddy becomes lost and nearly loses his life. In the confusion, he eventually finds himself on the doorstep of a beautiful and mysterious castle. Inviting himself into what he believes is an unoccupied home, he partakes of the castle's pleasures, eventually leaving with a bouquet of flowers for his daughter Belle. Unfortunately, the owners of this lovely home happen to be two beasts, who are none-too-pleased with what they perceive as outright theft, and Freddy is swiftly sentenced to death. Through some negotiations, he soon learns that there is only one way out; one of his daughters must agree to take his place. Cue Isabelle Holmes, a selfless 16 year-old with a heart of gold. Without hesitation, she agrees to go in her father's stead. When Belle's older sister Desiree learns of her sister's fate, she goes on a mission to save her, even if it means losing her own life. However, unbeknownst to Desiree, there is more to these beastly men, than meets the eye.

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Reviews

Explore Authors Magazine - Elijah B. ★★★★★ Freddy Holmes is a man who made several mistakes after his wife's passing. However, this might be his biggest one. After being whisked away to a mysterious world from a certain death during a snowstorm, Freddy takes advantage of his saviors' kindness by stealing several items for his children. However, it was when he stole several roses from a beautiful rose garden to make a bouquet that he was caught in the act by two fearsome beasts. In a desperate plea to the beasts for mercy, Freddy makes his biggest mistake of all, revealing that he only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter. The two beasts agree to let him go, but only if he brings one of his daughters back to live with them instead, thus sealing her fate. Family is...complicated. Family will leave you basking in the sunlight one moment and then be shattered on the rocks the next. Isabelle ""Belle"" Holmes knows this all too well. With an aloof older brother, two horrid older twin sisters, and a broken father. However, when it comes to her older sister, Desiree Holmes, author Isadora James said it best. ""A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life."" In an attempt to rescue her sister, Desiree also becomes a captive. With a bond as solid as a diamond, both sisters will have to stick together in a strange world as they encounter two princely beasts and untangle the feelings each causes them in A.J. Hughes' The Beauties and Her Beast. Readers may notice that The Beauties and Her Beast shares similarities to French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's fairy tale La Belle et la Bête. However, A.J. Hughes not only puts a modern twist on the 1740 version but also adds her own flare that makes this very unique. One of the biggest changes is that the story has four protagonists that it focuses on. You have the selfless, compassionate, pure-of-heart youngest daughter of the Holmes family in Isabelle ""Belle"" Holmes, and in Desiree Holmes, the headstrong, determined, eldest daughter of the Holmes family and most importantly, Belle's protector. On the opposite side of this love story, you have the hot-headed, rude, fiercely protective, and deeply loyal younger prince in Esmé and the firm but gentle, kind-hearted, respectful yet somber eldest brother, Crown Prince Raoul. The second, and most notable departure from the 1740's fairytale, is that the beastly princes are not dullards like the Beast in La Belle et la Bête, thus developing Raoul and Esmé into proper characters, allowing them to appropriately establish a bond with Desiree and Belle, respectively, adding a lot more depth to the story as a whole. The writing is descriptive without becoming overly verbose, the character interactions are solid, and the characters remain internally consistent throughout the story, which is commendable. However, the most important aspect of the plot that I want to shine a light on is the romance. It's not easy to develop multiple romances that are unique from each another in one story, but A.J. Hughes does an excellent job keeping the romances between the central characters distinct and nuanced, with special mention going to Raoul and Desiree. With strong writing, strong characters, and well-built romance, Romance lovers will enjoy The Beauties and Her Beast and find it a worthy addition to any physical or digital bookcase. This story gains an enthusiastic recommendation from me.

Author Information

A.J. Hughes is a fiction novelist and children's book author. A.J. Hughes currently has 12 titles. Her diverse body of work includes captivating tales for both young and adult readers. From the heartwarming pages of A Life: Worth Living to the imaginative worlds of Spooky Night and Operation Christmas Revenge, A.J.'s stories resonate with readers of all ages. A.J. is particularly drawn to exploring themes of love, loss, fear, and friendship. When she's not lost in the pages of her latest novel, A.J. can be found reading her favorite books, watching anime, or playing video games. A.J. Hughes currently resides in Madison, WI with her kitties, Anakin, Oreo, and Miso. Her motto: ""Nothing is more beautiful than a sad story."" Follow A.J. Hughes on her social media accounts for updates on her novels to come. Facebook: @A.J.HughesAuthor, Instagram: @a.j.hughesauthor, TikTok: @a.j.hughesauthor, Neighbahood.com: A.J. Hughes; and Youtube: @AuthorAJHughes

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