To Love a Beast: a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in 1800s Texas

To Love a Beast is the first book in the Once Upon a Time in Texas by Karen Witemeyer. Everett Griffin once enjoyed life among New York’s elite. He was left scared in both body and spirit, he now lives as a recluse in his Texas mansion with only three trusted servants. Everett uses this reputation as a shield as the beast who lives in the gloomy manor and sends his monster dog to attack anyone who dares approach the property.. It wouldn’t be until a young beautiful woman breaks the walls down. After an injury to her father, Callista Rosenfield is determined to fulfill a major contract in order to save the family’s book binding business and nothing will deter her. After finding unlikely allies in Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista gets to work restoring volumes in his library. As Everett watches Callista work, he sets aside his ill-tempered growls for admiration. As affection grows between Everett and Callista, the evil schemes of someone out for revenge threatens to tear everything apart. 

Disney’s 1990 Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies and I enjoyed books retelling fairy tales. I was excited to read this Beauty & the Beast retelling set in 1800's Texas. I was hooked from the opening chapter. The story is filled with humorous banter between Griffin and his staff as well as Griffin and Callista. There are great moments that will bring smiles to your face as well as romantic moments that will make the heart beat a bit faster. The swoon worthy ending is sigh worthy. I loved the little homage moments to the Disney movie and yet had its own drama with twists and turns. I also enjoyed the faith of the characters throughout the story. It wasn’t overwhelming and fit great into the story. One of my favorite quotes is “Hope sees possibilities, where fear only sees barriers.” I devoured this book in one day. I could not put it down and I eagerly await more books in this series. I highly, highly, highly recommend To Love a Beast. 

 

To Love a Beast is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook