Journeying by steam-powered sled to London’s Frost Fair to perform, Tara and three friends are trapped in a blizzard in the woods. A gruff, handsome stranger offers them shelter-and wants one thing in return. Stories.
The travelers are glad to oblige. Their host, Rolph, is especially captivated by Tara’s story of an orphaned girl raised by the Fae in the world of the spirits. Equally intrigued by Rolph, and aware of an electric pull between them, Tara encourages him to share a story of his own. When Rolph weaves a tale of a man who is doomed by his own folly to turn into a wolf at the full moon, Tara suspects there is more than a grain of truth in his words.
When the veil between the mortal and spiritual worlds is parted, and danger threatens, will Tara make the ultimate sacrifice to save Rolph?
Four travelers are trying to get to the Frost Fair in London when a blizzard hits. They finally come upon a cottage and the owner is nice enough to agree to take them in until the storm passes. As the storm rages the four travelers, who are actually a storytelling troop, decide to tell stories to thank the owner, Rolph, for taking them in.
Beth tells a story of a knight who beats a dragon that is quite entertaining. But while Beth is telling her story, her friend, Tara, is checking out the owner. She is thoroughly intrigued by the man and drawn to him a way she can’t explain. It seems that he is to her as well but is avoiding her gaze in embarrassment. Then Tara tells her tale of an orphan who is raised by the Fae and by wolves. Rolph then tells his own story about a man so taken with alchemy that he creates a potion that eventually turns the man into a werewolf of sorts.
Tara and her friends end up being stuck when their stomper (a steam powered conveyance) doesn’t weather the storm all that well and they have to go for parts. Rolph takes Tara and her friend Fred into town and while there Rolph and Tara talk and become friendlier. Tara definitely feels something for Rolph but she can’t quite figure the man out – he just doesn’t give any of his feelings away. And why is he telling her to stay inside when he’s outside and seems to be running through the wood? Something is definitely hinky going on and she wants to know more.
I don’t think I’m describing the book very well because there’s so much going on below the surface of the story that it’s hard for me to express the thoughts and feelings that this book brought to me. There were feelings of sadness as the stories were told – as well as smiles. There were thoughts about the attraction that you could feel growing between Rolph and Tara. The feelings between the couple were so submerged yet the way the author wrote them you still knew that they were there.
This is definitely not your typical romance as we just don’t get that much background on the characters other than through stories, and there’s really no “romantic” interaction between Rolph and Tara. Despite that, however, I had no problem seeing the attraction and affection growing between them.
If you like something a little different – a left turn from your regular romances then you should definitely consider reading Beauty in the Beast…it’s worth reading.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Carina Press
Releases March 5
Releases March 5
