Very touching, written with a clear understanding of the essence of the original story, yet adding an undeniably modern flair to it, this rendition of "Beauty and the Beast" is probably my favorite ever. The characters are completely contemporary, as is the situation. But the timeless magic of a man who has suffered physical disfigurement in his face, resulting in unbearable loneliness, finding love weaves through every sentence of this version of the story.

Beau is a poor artist, struggling to make a living, but happy to be free. He is very good at seeing the "heart of things", and it is a talent that will serve him well. He is beaten up and left for dead, then rescued by an enigmatic stranger. I loved the description of his awakening, the slow realization of what happened, and his determination to find out more about his savior. Beau is a really good guy, and determined to communicate this to the man who took him in.

"Beast", as the rescuer asks to be called, has gone through unimaginable trauma. He isn’t exactly bitter, and makes the best of a very solitary life, but he has lost faith in the rest of humanity treating him with dignity or respect. In his experience, they cannot deal with the way he looks. Jeanne-Marie, in the way of so many people who are 'different' from the norm, has grown to see himself the way the uncaring majority would describe him – as a 'beast'. He has lost the ability to see himself as the person he really is, replacing it with the label given to him by others.

It takes Beau and his ability to look beyond someone's exterior appearance to change that. It is a truly miraculous transformation, and I love the careful steps both Beau and Jeanne-Marie take in their dance to get to know and love each other. It is a bit of 'move forward then retreat', but each time they come together it is a little closer. And in the final 'happy ending' they no longer move away from each other at all. Absolutely heartwarming! And in a touching gesture, the 'beast' is named Jeanne-Marie, after the author of the original story; that was a wonderful touch. If you like stories that really are fairy tales set in today's world, if you enjoy characters with deep emotions and some real obstacles to overcome, and if you're looking for a short, uplifting tale, this is one you should give a go. I can truly recommend it.


NOTE: This book was provided by Amber Allure for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

Very touching, written with a clear understanding of the essence of the original story, yet adding an undeniably modern flair to it, this rendition of "Beauty and the Beast" is probably my favorite ever. The characters are completely contemporary, as is the situation. But the timeless magic of a man who has suffered physical disfigurement in his face, resulting in unbearable loneliness, finding love weaves through every sentence of this version of the story.

Beau is a poor artist, struggling to make a living, but happy to be free. He is very good at seeing the "heart of things", and it is a talent that will serve him well. He is beaten up and left for dead, then rescued by an enigmatic stranger. I loved the description of his awakening, the slow realization of what happened, and his determination to find out more about his savior. Beau is a really good guy, and determined to communicate this to the man who took him in.

"Beast", as the rescuer asks to be called, has gone through unimaginable trauma. He isn’t exactly bitter, and makes the best of a very solitary life, but he has lost faith in the rest of humanity treating him with dignity or respect. In his experience, they cannot deal with the way he looks. Jeanne-Marie, in the way of so many people who are 'different' from the norm, has grown to see himself the way the uncaring majority would describe him – as a 'beast'. He has lost the ability to see himself as the person he really is, replacing it with the label given to him by others.

It takes Beau and his ability to look beyond someone's exterior appearance to change that. It is a truly miraculous transformation, and I love the careful steps both Beau and Jeanne-Marie take in their dance to get to know and love each other. It is a bit of 'move forward then retreat', but each time they come together it is a little closer. And in the final 'happy ending' they no longer move away from each other at all. Absolutely heartwarming! And in a touching gesture, the 'beast' is named Jeanne-Marie, after the author of the original story; that was a wonderful touch. If you like stories that really are fairy tales set in today's world, if you enjoy characters with deep emotions and some real obstacles to overcome, and if you're looking for a short, uplifting tale, this is one you should give a go. I can truly recommend it.


NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )