The Beast of Beswick (Regency Rogues, #1) (Everleigh Sisters, #1)

by Amalie Howard

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

It has been awhile since I read a historical romance, but after reading the blurb for The Beast of Beswick, I knew I had to read it, and I am so glad got the opportunity to do so. I enjoyed Astrid and Thane’s story. It had all the feels, and it swept me away and kept me reading through the wee hours.

Astrid and her sister are under the guardianship of their aunt and uncle until they got married. Astrid’s chances of getting married were ruined when the man who had been courting her ruined her reputation. Since then, her sole focus was on protecting her sister. She was determined that her sister had the chance to marry well, but their uncle had other plans. He intends to marry Astrid’s sister to the same man who had ruined her reputation. Astrid is no fool, and she devised a strategy, which involves finding a husband to thwart her uncle’s plan. The perfect man for her plan was none other than the Duke of Beswick, Lord Nathaniel Harte.

Thane dubbed the Beast of Beswick because of scars he received while at war. The scars were so severe he rarely appears in public because of the stares, whispering and ridicule he faces. Physical scars was not his only issue. His biggest issue were the scars, which were buried deep in is heart. Scars, which led to him distancing himself from his peers and living in complete isolation. He believes no woman would want to be with him much less to marry him. So imagine his surprise when Astrid approached him with what he considered a ridiculous proposal.

I found their initial meeting fun, which led to me wanting more of these two. Their chemistry was undeniable. There may have been instant, but their love for each grew overtime. Thane fought his feelings, but with a strong, outspoken, independent and determined woman like Astrid, he didn’t stand a chance of winning that battle.

The secondary characters played an important role in driving the story. Thane’s valet, butler and aunt had me laughing throughout most of the story. Thane’s aunt had no shame, and she made no apologies for her actions. His valet and butler proved to more than mere servants. They did not fear speaking their minds especially in the face of Thane’s ire.

The author weaved an emotional and steamy tale and I enjoyed her spin on the classic Beauty and the Beast.

Conclusion/Recommendation
I have no reservations recommending this book to fans of historical romance. I enjoyed Thane and Astrid’s story and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.