Viper Spaulding
A beast with a heart of gold! I love the beauty and the beast trope, and this story is one of the best. Dane is the bastard son of an earl, and since he left home he's made quite a name for himself as the Beast - the head of security for the man known as King, who runs the seedier side of town. He kept tabs on the one lady he knew he could never have, so when she goes missing he's frantic with worry and pulls out all the stops to track her down. Lillian is on the run after her father tries to marry her off to her attacker. She turns to the one man she knows will help - even though she hasn't seen him in a decade. Once she finds him, though, convincing him that he's the only one who can help is a bit tougher than she thought. I loved the emotional interplay in this book. They both are in love with the other from the start, but neither has the confidence to believe their affections are returned. Their love story is so sweet and heartfelt, and I loved every bit of it. There are complications, of course, which are quite neatly handled by both Dane and his brother, Malcolm. The events of this book takes place after those of The Duke's Defiant Angel but before those of The Fallen Earl's Sinful Salvation. Each of the three is a standalone romance, but all three books are best read in that order, as there are crossover characters and a shared timeline. I highly recommend all three of these books, and am looking forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Mariah Wall
“A raw powerful love is exactly what you expect for a man like The Beast. After reading the Fallen Earl, I was eager to know Dane Helms better. The bastard brother who was raised as a servant, and treated worse. You knew he would be a hardened man after the upbringing he received from a cruel Earl, but seeing the heart behind the mask was powerful indeed. Here is a man whom after a lifetime alone, had nothing but love to offer the one girl who’d always seen him. Seeing these two come to grips with their love for each other was beautifully moving. Bridging past insecurities and low self-esteem on both sides. They are both broken individuals, but together they become whole. Healing the wounds and scars of the past and building a bright future. Bella Moxie writes her characters so they burn into your heart, you cannot help but love Lillian & Dane. A thoroughly good read with love, passion and heat!”