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elcanaldevenecia's review
5.0
English and Spanish Review
ENG
Initial Thoughts
If I have learned anything in these months is that the talent of this writer, works quite well with my tastes. Likewise I have had the pleasure of reading this trilogy and now it has split my heart in two, because between the Constantines and Morelli, there has always been a war but not as big as Amelia has made it.
Story
Haley is a warrior, and as such she will never let herself be beaten by a deal. For her family is everything and if she has to give herself up to save the ones she loves she will. But in the process she has to protect her heart from the Beast of Bishop's Landing.
Opinion
Midnight Dynasty has become one of the best worlds I have ever read. And this trilogy is among the best the world has to offer. Full of betrayal, romance, prohibition; that will make you sigh, cry and laugh but most of all fall in love with the beast that everyone fears.
I am thrilled with this book and I can't put into words how much I loved it.
Physical book
It holds three complete novels. It is the trilogy. The cover is exquisite. Contains characters mentioned in other books but can be read individually from other books.
Please check TW.
ESP
Pensamientos iniciales
Si algo he aprendido en estos meses es que el talento de esta escritora, funciona bastante con mis gustos. Al igual he tenido el placer de leer esta trilogía y ahora ha partido en dos mi corazón, porque entre los Constantine y Morelli, siempre ha habido un guerra pero no tan grande como la ha convertido Amelia.
Historia
Haley es una guerrera, y como tal nunca se dejará vencer por un trato. Para ella la familia lo es todo y si tiene que entregarse para salvar a los que ama así lo hará. Pero en el proceso tiene que proteger su corazón de la Bestia de Bishop’s Landing.
Opinión
Midnight Dynasty se ha vuelto de los mejores mundos que he leído en la vida. Y esta trilogía se encuentra entre las mejores que tiene el mundo. Llena de traición, romance, prohibición; que te hará suspirar, llorar y reír pero sobre todo enamorarte de la bestia que todos temen.
Estoy encantada con este libro y no caben en palabras cuanto me encantó.
Libro físico
Mantiene tres novelas completas. Es la trilogía. Su portada es exquisita. Contiene personajes mencionados en otros libros pero puede ser leída individualmente.
ENG
Initial Thoughts
If I have learned anything in these months is that the talent of this writer, works quite well with my tastes. Likewise I have had the pleasure of reading this trilogy and now it has split my heart in two, because between the Constantines and Morelli, there has always been a war but not as big as Amelia has made it.
Story
Haley is a warrior, and as such she will never let herself be beaten by a deal. For her family is everything and if she has to give herself up to save the ones she loves she will. But in the process she has to protect her heart from the Beast of Bishop's Landing.
Opinion
Midnight Dynasty has become one of the best worlds I have ever read. And this trilogy is among the best the world has to offer. Full of betrayal, romance, prohibition; that will make you sigh, cry and laugh but most of all fall in love with the beast that everyone fears.
I am thrilled with this book and I can't put into words how much I loved it.
Physical book
It holds three complete novels. It is the trilogy. The cover is exquisite. Contains characters mentioned in other books but can be read individually from other books.
Please check TW.
ESP
Pensamientos iniciales
Si algo he aprendido en estos meses es que el talento de esta escritora, funciona bastante con mis gustos. Al igual he tenido el placer de leer esta trilogía y ahora ha partido en dos mi corazón, porque entre los Constantine y Morelli, siempre ha habido un guerra pero no tan grande como la ha convertido Amelia.
Historia
Haley es una guerrera, y como tal nunca se dejará vencer por un trato. Para ella la familia lo es todo y si tiene que entregarse para salvar a los que ama así lo hará. Pero en el proceso tiene que proteger su corazón de la Bestia de Bishop’s Landing.
Opinión
Midnight Dynasty se ha vuelto de los mejores mundos que he leído en la vida. Y esta trilogía se encuentra entre las mejores que tiene el mundo. Llena de traición, romance, prohibición; que te hará suspirar, llorar y reír pero sobre todo enamorarte de la bestia que todos temen.
Estoy encantada con este libro y no caben en palabras cuanto me encantó.
Libro físico
Mantiene tres novelas completas. Es la trilogía. Su portada es exquisita. Contiene personajes mencionados en otros libros pero puede ser leída individualmente.
kelly_reads_books's review
5.0
Secret Beast
The Beast of Bishop Landing lives up to his name unequivocally. He is feared and revered, no one looks at him wrong and gets away with it. He really is a beast.
Leo Morelli is ruthless when it comes to dealing with anyone but especially a Constantine. And Haley is no exception, as she offers herself up like a lamb to the slaughter.
This decades long war between the Morelli‘s and the Constantine’s is heating up again and the secrets are bursting at the seams, dying to be revealed.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Hidden Beauty was spectacular!
This Beast of Bishop's Landing, although some refer to him as a prince, as he reigns over his kingdom and lives in a real castle. But to Haley, he is her dark prince, and incites these unknows sensations in her, so many emotions and feelings, ranging from hate, to infatuation, and possibly love?
After that heartbreaking ending in Secret Beast we start right up again, with Leo in the hospital, and his sister Eva arriving on the scene and taking over.
This couple's relationship is dark and deprived at times, and loving and caring at others. Leo has awoken a part of Haley that she can no longer deny, his darkness meeting her light, creating a bevy of sensation that only Leo can provide.
But that ending was devastating and shocking, again leaving me hanging and needing the answers.
Fallen Rose
This final chapter in Leo and Haley's story was perfect, and so much more than I could have expected. Their love is raw, and sometimes broken, but always emotional and heartfelt.
Several times while reading this story I was worried, worried that the outcome of this couple would not be as beautiful as I needed it to be. They fractured and broke apart so many times, and finally found the glue to put them back together and make they stick as one.
The Beast of Bishop's Landing is now the Prince of Bishop's Landing, as he always should have been.
6 Beautiful Stars
The Beast of Bishop Landing lives up to his name unequivocally. He is feared and revered, no one looks at him wrong and gets away with it. He really is a beast.
Leo Morelli is ruthless when it comes to dealing with anyone but especially a Constantine. And Haley is no exception, as she offers herself up like a lamb to the slaughter.
This decades long war between the Morelli‘s and the Constantine’s is heating up again and the secrets are bursting at the seams, dying to be revealed.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Hidden Beauty was spectacular!
This Beast of Bishop's Landing, although some refer to him as a prince, as he reigns over his kingdom and lives in a real castle. But to Haley, he is her dark prince, and incites these unknows sensations in her, so many emotions and feelings, ranging from hate, to infatuation, and possibly love?
After that heartbreaking ending in Secret Beast we start right up again, with Leo in the hospital, and his sister Eva arriving on the scene and taking over.
This couple's relationship is dark and deprived at times, and loving and caring at others. Leo has awoken a part of Haley that she can no longer deny, his darkness meeting her light, creating a bevy of sensation that only Leo can provide.
But that ending was devastating and shocking, again leaving me hanging and needing the answers.
Fallen Rose
This final chapter in Leo and Haley's story was perfect, and so much more than I could have expected. Their love is raw, and sometimes broken, but always emotional and heartfelt.
Several times while reading this story I was worried, worried that the outcome of this couple would not be as beautiful as I needed it to be. They fractured and broke apart so many times, and finally found the glue to put them back together and make they stick as one.
The Beast of Bishop's Landing is now the Prince of Bishop's Landing, as he always should have been.
6 Beautiful Stars
romancebookloverinseattle's review
5.0
I'm fairly new to Amelia Wilde, but love how she has a way of drawing you in to these intense, epic stories. In this one we have Leo Morelli, the beast, and Haley Constantine a member of a family that Leo has set his sights on seeking vengeance from. Haley becomes his pawn in that scheme. This is a play on The Beauty and the Beast and is dark, sexy, steamy, twisted, incredibly intense and so very angsty. I love Amelia Wilde's way with words, it adds such beauty to the story. Things aren't quite what they seem here with hidden depths and layers to these characters and their epic, twisted love story. I loved that I was able to get all three books in one collection and I didn't have to wait to see what would happen next.
barefootcoven's review
5.0
This is a binding of the three novels in the Beast of Bishops's Landing series (Secret Beast, Hidden Beauty and Fallen Rose) plus a bonus epilogue. The Beast of Bishop's Landing series is a modern dark romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
This is the fourth series by Amelia Wilde that I've read, and each series gets even better. She has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors. I only found out after reading this series that it's part of the so called Midnight Dynasty collection, featuring multiple series by multiple authors, all revolving around various characters that are part of a larger story. You can trust that I will be making my way through the other series now as well, because I'm invested!
This bundle starts with Secret Beast, which I instantly loved. It's dark, it's intense, it's dangerous, and it keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire way through. The book ends with a cliffhanger, and it leaves you wanting for more.
Next is Hidden Beauty, which dives deeper into the story of the feud between the Morellis and the Constantines. It shows more of Leo's dark past and once again ends with a cliffhanger. If you love Hades and Persephone retellings, you're going to love the bit of Hades that we'll see in this book, which sets up for Amelia Wilde's King of Shadows trilogy (another fantastic series!).
Last is Fallen Rose, which is the grand finale of this series and it does not disappoint. Haley is a very brave and headstrong character, but my heart belongs to Leo. While yes he is the Beast, this book shows that there is so much more behind him. His vulnerability is everything and it broke my heart. The series ends on a heartwarming high note, and leaves little sprinkles for other series in the Midnight Dynasty world.
Overall the series is a 5-star read for me. It's dark and gripping. I've read the full series in one day. I've loved everything I've read by Amelia Wilde so far, but this was definitely my favourite series by her.
I received an eARC in return for an honest review. Thank you so much to Valentine PR and the author for giving me this opportunity.
This is the fourth series by Amelia Wilde that I've read, and each series gets even better. She has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors. I only found out after reading this series that it's part of the so called Midnight Dynasty collection, featuring multiple series by multiple authors, all revolving around various characters that are part of a larger story. You can trust that I will be making my way through the other series now as well, because I'm invested!
This bundle starts with Secret Beast, which I instantly loved. It's dark, it's intense, it's dangerous, and it keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire way through. The book ends with a cliffhanger, and it leaves you wanting for more.
Next is Hidden Beauty, which dives deeper into the story of the feud between the Morellis and the Constantines. It shows more of Leo's dark past and once again ends with a cliffhanger. If you love Hades and Persephone retellings, you're going to love the bit of Hades that we'll see in this book, which sets up for Amelia Wilde's King of Shadows trilogy (another fantastic series!).
Last is Fallen Rose, which is the grand finale of this series and it does not disappoint. Haley is a very brave and headstrong character, but my heart belongs to Leo. While yes he is the Beast, this book shows that there is so much more behind him. His vulnerability is everything and it broke my heart. The series ends on a heartwarming high note, and leaves little sprinkles for other series in the Midnight Dynasty world.
Overall the series is a 5-star read for me. It's dark and gripping. I've read the full series in one day. I've loved everything I've read by Amelia Wilde so far, but this was definitely my favourite series by her.
I received an eARC in return for an honest review. Thank you so much to Valentine PR and the author for giving me this opportunity.
bookishproblems's review
5.0
“Villains aren’t supposed to kiss the virtue out of you. Did I ever have any to begin with?”
…..
Woah I definitely didn’t think I’d be the one saying Leo Morelli is my favorite Morelli but dangggg he is!! This is a dark retelling of the beauty and the beast fairytale, but in the world of the Constantine’s and the Morellis, this is no fairy tale. Over the span of three books and some bonus epilogue material, this beast makes you fall in love with him after he takes Haley Constantine due to a deal with her father. Cue the secretly evil Caroline Constantine (at least in my eyes) trying everything in her power to keep these two apart, going to extremes that have lasting impacts. Many obstacles stand in their way but this trilogy is well worth the drama, love, and steam - happily a favorite!
Secret Beast, Hidden Beauty, and Fallen Rose will always be recommended by me
…..
Woah I definitely didn’t think I’d be the one saying Leo Morelli is my favorite Morelli but dangggg he is!! This is a dark retelling of the beauty and the beast fairytale, but in the world of the Constantine’s and the Morellis, this is no fairy tale. Over the span of three books and some bonus epilogue material, this beast makes you fall in love with him after he takes Haley Constantine due to a deal with her father. Cue the secretly evil Caroline Constantine (at least in my eyes) trying everything in her power to keep these two apart, going to extremes that have lasting impacts. Many obstacles stand in their way but this trilogy is well worth the drama, love, and steam - happily a favorite!
Secret Beast, Hidden Beauty, and Fallen Rose will always be recommended by me
kristisam's review
5.0
I’m obsessed with the Morelli vs Constantine rivalry and this modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast takes it to a whole new level. This trilogy is packed full of secrets, lies, conflict, and chemistry. Two families fueled by grudges and plots of revenge and the people caught in the crosshairs. An entertaining tale that you can’t help losing yourself in. I highly recommend diving into the madness.
kfriend's review
5.0
I LOVE THIS SERIES! The seductive, erotic magic of Amelia Wilde paired with the addictive Midnight Dynasty world makes for a transfixing combination.
Book 1: 5 stars
The more I read in the Midnight Dynasty universe -the more obsessed I become. I am living for these modern, erotic fairytale stories, happily immersing myself in the dramatic, sensual, and sordid machinations of the Constantine and Morelli families. I was particularly excited for this series by Amelia both because its source material is my all time favorite fairy tale- Beauty and the Beast- but also because Amelia is an author that I’ve not yet been able to read a full length novel from but who has been on my TBR for an embarrassing amount of time. SO, I was excited to sink my teeth into Haley and Leo’s story- and I’ll definitely be coming back for more.Our heroine Haley, our updated Belle, finds herself in the clutches of the infamous Leo Morelli- whom fans from other series may recognize as a constant Constantine foe. These Constantines are quite a different flavor than the ones we’ve met before- powerless, impoverished, pawns. And when her father makes an overzealous misstep, Haley gives herself to the enemy in exchange for his freedom. The innocent beauty in the clutches of the ferocious beast.Having read prior books in this interconnected world, I’d met some of these characters before. This book can be read as a standalone, though I’ll admit I’m not sure I would have found these characters quite as menacing if I’d not already seen some of them as villains in prior stories. Leo in particular does a number on me here- I had learned to loathe him already, so switching my mindset to seeing him as a sexy anti-hero took me a minute. And, he didn’t do me any favors in getting there mentally. He’s ruthless, cold, and cruel. We don’t get to see much behind him, any sort of empathy or emotion until much later in the story. And, this is not a leading man who softens in any way, we just start to understand him more- perhaps forgive him a bit. We only get small bread crumbs of his ability to care for our innocent heroine- but eventually we got enough for me to feel something for him, to root for him.Haley is plucky and sincere- the kind of heroine that loves and forgives and tries to find redeeming qualities in others when they may not be there. So, she’s the perfect match for the unredeemable Leo. He breaks her, tortures her, is cruel to her- yet she cares. And slowly by slowly his treatment of her becomes less about penance and torture and more about connection and care. And, that draws her even more to him- draws out her own deviant desires and kinks. The chemistry between them was slow to develop for me- in part because of Leo’s coldness. But, about half way through, something started to sizzle, and I felt more attached, then ultimately addicted, to this couple. Of course just when they start to open up, just when we start to see their hearts connect, things get chaotic.As far as adaptations go, this is a pretty literal translation of my all time favorite classic. Our beast is a gnarly mafioso cursed by the scars of his family, and our beauty is still the wide-eyed bibliophile brimming with innocent determination and naïve authenticity. We have the crazy inventor father, a friendly housekeeper, a contract exchange, heck, we even have the iconic champagne gold gown. Our key plot points mirror those of the classic with ease- though our enemy takes a slightly different shape than that of the buff Gaston. That gives the plot a familiarity, though this is of course a far more naughty and erotic version. And it is naughty- our Beast is filthy and turns out our belle likes it a bit rough. Those parts of the stories- the ones that are not so dependent on the framework of the classic, are the ones that gripped me most- and where Amelia shines as a writer. Of course, those were often the more naughty parts- but in truth, to me those were also the moments where our characters became more realized, more defined. The overarching story is, of course, enjoyable and a fast paced read-and the last 40% in particular really grabbed me as chemistry escalates and as we start to run out of source material, leaving TONS of questions for where this will go next. I have a feeling I’ll like the subsequent stories even more -I think that will make the plot more unpredictable, and certainly will give Amelia a larger playground to get creative within. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2, and just what our finale means for this depraved, twisted, and complicated relationship.
book 2: 4 stars
Hidden Beauty is the perfect encapsulation of the beguiling, sensual, and deliciously spellbinding story-telling magic of Amelia Wilde- and in this erotic, twisted, and yummy dark Beauty and the Beast, her talents truly shine.
LEO MORELLI. Oh my heart- Amelia makes me fall head over heels for this broken beast. HE IS EVERYTHING. I didn’t think I could find him more interesting, more compelling, but I was wrong- his character arc, his steady and poignant exposure makes this whole story. In book 1, we saw the savagery- we saw the facets of his ruthless, cold, beastly nature. But we got a transformative glimmer of his true nature at our riveting conclusion- that cliffhanger that let us see the broken man behind the beast. In Hidden Beauty, there is no hiding- Amelia unleashes his heart and soul, and he is breathtaking. LIke our source material, we find that the beast is really just wounded and defensive, but beneath the growl is a heart of gold- a shocking nuance of goodness and emotional complexity. A man who sacrifices for others, a man who will do anything for those he loves, a man who has now replaced anger with vulnerability and authenticity. While our title speaks to Leo’s central motivation as an alpha- his need to hide and protect his beauty, even against her will-this story, if anything, is the opposite of that- this is about exposing the beast. The evolution of our leading mean- as we, both reader and Hayley, fall more in love with him. Physically, he’s healing, but emotionally he’s unleashed- and I was enraptured.
The catalyst of all this growth, of course, is the realizations he’s drawn from the denouement of our prior story, realization about his beauty, Haley. I really loved her in our first book, and here we get to see her find more power in what was once a powerless romantic entanglement. But, with that power comes confusion and more angst- and at times I was frustrated by her. Leo becomes more open, and she becomes more closed off and confused. Of course, she’s conflicted- torn between two families who, in all fairness, have at best ignored her and her family and at worse irreparably harmed them. But her heart is so good- and as her fierceness comes out, I appreciated that Amelia found ways to keep her soft. Their chemistry is still combustible and scorching, but now with more emotional dimension, more nuance. We get a lot more emotional intimacy, and conflict, in this second installment- resulting in a more dimensional Leo and a less naïve Haley. I adore them together, and when they are both gracing the page, I simply can not turn the pages fast enough.
Like our first book, we have familiar referential moments to the classic tale we know and love- most notably the classic “will you have dinner with me” moment that is forever ingrained in my adolescent memory. But this second installment relies less on the architecture of the classic and yields more heavily towards the creativity of Amelia Wilde- and in that this story really shines. The characters have emotional journeys similar to the fairy tale’s namesake, but Amelia has defined them anew. The prose in the second installment had a different flair- but one I appreciated. This a decidedly more meta story- one that is more focused on the internal struggles and emotional angst between these two characters than the vendetta action and games surrounding them. The result is that the pace is slower, and we have less overarching plot progress, but instead we’re treated to a closer look at the conflicted emotional processing of both of these characters- one in a battle with herself over her confused emotions, and another desperately trying to be the man his woman needs. They are both full of contradictions and imperfections, but we now start to see their love blossom in a more solid, unbreakable way.
But, while we see these two explore their feelings further, they still have much to work out, not to mention the looming obstacle of the nefarious intentions of the Morelli foes. And, of course, we have another cliffhanger - what a doozie! I’m desperate for our final installment- and holding out hope that this beauty and the beast will find their HEA.
book 3:
WHAT AN EPIC FINALE!! Amelia has saved her most intoxicating, beguiling, and spellbinding book in this trilogy for last- the perfect conclusion to this erotic, sensual, and deliciously dark beauty and the beast masterpiece. I was transfixed from the first word to the last, desperate for our star crossed lovers to find a way to conquer the evilest of Constantines, but even more desperate for our beauty and our beast to be free of their pain.
Like Haley, I’m a captive- completely owned by the intoxicating dark magnificence of Leo Morelli. HE IS EVERYTHING. Hands down Amelia’s most compelling and nuanced hero to date. And, the Morelli beast is ironically the soonest Midnight Dynasty leaning man of all. Amelia has created such a profound and compelling character evolution for this long-suffering, tortured man. In this finale, we see the full spectrum of what makes Leo Morelli- from the savage, ruthless, carnal urges of his repressed beastly nature to the altruistic, unconditional, pure love he oozes as he selflessly sacrifices for his family and Haley. But we see the entirety of the man in this conclusion, and he is breathtaking. Whereas the fabled beast wore his beastly guise as the result of a curse, Leo has donned his beastly persona of choice. He’s created a weaponized visage that protects him from exposing his pain, his trauma, his heart. But now we see the most beautiful, soul shattering aspect of this man- his vulnerability. And while we still have our alpha, dominant, possessive Morelli king, we also have a wounded, gentle, devastating besotted hero. Amelia gives us both beast and prince- and THIS IS HOW YOU EVOLVE A CHARACTER! I was transfixed by every word. His past broke my heart, but his arrestingly beautiful way of loving Haley shattered it completely. The power of his heart was truly breathtaking, I felt his pain and devotion in my very soul. Our prior books helped us understand his dimension, but now Leo has to come to terms with all parts of himself. And it’s less about harnessing the beast, and more about accepting his goodness. He has to expose all of himself, and sweet and solid Haley loves him for every piece.
“I’m the beast now. The nightmare….
I see you for what you are. You’re a prince. My prince.”
Haley is his perfect match- the light to his dark, the submissive to his need for control. I loved how unwavering she is- she knows what and who she wants, and she never falters. Despite the countless obstacles her family and the vicious matriarch Caroline Constanine throw her way. She’s so pure of heart, but she’s not naive. She doesn’t want to tame the beast- she wants to accept and love him, and she also wants to help him see that he’s more than that. And in doing so, we also see her blossom, as his partner, as his equal. We see her become more than the poor Constantine captive, the pawn. I appreciated that Amelia found ways to keep her soft- but she also is POWERFUL. Their chemistry is still combustible and scorching, but now with SO much emotional dimension, because they finally are emotionally bare to one another. Completely honest, exposed, and it only strengthens their connection.
While the story has certainly veered from its beauty and the beast beginnings, Amelia finds ways to keep nodding at the themes of the original, but with her own brilliant twist. Our climatic is her best and most impactful referential moment of the entire series- I literally could not breathe I was so consumed by emotion. And, like our second story, this book is more metaphysical in focus- about the emotional wrestling these characters are doing with themselves, so our story remains deliciously meta. You feel so intimately connected to them both. And the prose is beautifully rendered.
And just when I was lamenting that this engrossing story was turning its final page for good, Amelia gifts us with an epilogue that sets us up for a spin-off that has me SALIVATING. One that I can only hope gives me a chance to dance just a little while longer with the beauty and her beast. By far one of the best stories yet in the Midnight Dynasty world, and one of my favorite Amelia Wilde series ever.
Book 1: 5 stars
The more I read in the Midnight Dynasty universe -the more obsessed I become. I am living for these modern, erotic fairytale stories, happily immersing myself in the dramatic, sensual, and sordid machinations of the Constantine and Morelli families. I was particularly excited for this series by Amelia both because its source material is my all time favorite fairy tale- Beauty and the Beast- but also because Amelia is an author that I’ve not yet been able to read a full length novel from but who has been on my TBR for an embarrassing amount of time. SO, I was excited to sink my teeth into Haley and Leo’s story- and I’ll definitely be coming back for more.Our heroine Haley, our updated Belle, finds herself in the clutches of the infamous Leo Morelli- whom fans from other series may recognize as a constant Constantine foe. These Constantines are quite a different flavor than the ones we’ve met before- powerless, impoverished, pawns. And when her father makes an overzealous misstep, Haley gives herself to the enemy in exchange for his freedom. The innocent beauty in the clutches of the ferocious beast.Having read prior books in this interconnected world, I’d met some of these characters before. This book can be read as a standalone, though I’ll admit I’m not sure I would have found these characters quite as menacing if I’d not already seen some of them as villains in prior stories. Leo in particular does a number on me here- I had learned to loathe him already, so switching my mindset to seeing him as a sexy anti-hero took me a minute. And, he didn’t do me any favors in getting there mentally. He’s ruthless, cold, and cruel. We don’t get to see much behind him, any sort of empathy or emotion until much later in the story. And, this is not a leading man who softens in any way, we just start to understand him more- perhaps forgive him a bit. We only get small bread crumbs of his ability to care for our innocent heroine- but eventually we got enough for me to feel something for him, to root for him.Haley is plucky and sincere- the kind of heroine that loves and forgives and tries to find redeeming qualities in others when they may not be there. So, she’s the perfect match for the unredeemable Leo. He breaks her, tortures her, is cruel to her- yet she cares. And slowly by slowly his treatment of her becomes less about penance and torture and more about connection and care. And, that draws her even more to him- draws out her own deviant desires and kinks. The chemistry between them was slow to develop for me- in part because of Leo’s coldness. But, about half way through, something started to sizzle, and I felt more attached, then ultimately addicted, to this couple. Of course just when they start to open up, just when we start to see their hearts connect, things get chaotic.As far as adaptations go, this is a pretty literal translation of my all time favorite classic. Our beast is a gnarly mafioso cursed by the scars of his family, and our beauty is still the wide-eyed bibliophile brimming with innocent determination and naïve authenticity. We have the crazy inventor father, a friendly housekeeper, a contract exchange, heck, we even have the iconic champagne gold gown. Our key plot points mirror those of the classic with ease- though our enemy takes a slightly different shape than that of the buff Gaston. That gives the plot a familiarity, though this is of course a far more naughty and erotic version. And it is naughty- our Beast is filthy and turns out our belle likes it a bit rough. Those parts of the stories- the ones that are not so dependent on the framework of the classic, are the ones that gripped me most- and where Amelia shines as a writer. Of course, those were often the more naughty parts- but in truth, to me those were also the moments where our characters became more realized, more defined. The overarching story is, of course, enjoyable and a fast paced read-and the last 40% in particular really grabbed me as chemistry escalates and as we start to run out of source material, leaving TONS of questions for where this will go next. I have a feeling I’ll like the subsequent stories even more -I think that will make the plot more unpredictable, and certainly will give Amelia a larger playground to get creative within. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2, and just what our finale means for this depraved, twisted, and complicated relationship.
book 2: 4 stars
Hidden Beauty is the perfect encapsulation of the beguiling, sensual, and deliciously spellbinding story-telling magic of Amelia Wilde- and in this erotic, twisted, and yummy dark Beauty and the Beast, her talents truly shine.
LEO MORELLI. Oh my heart- Amelia makes me fall head over heels for this broken beast. HE IS EVERYTHING. I didn’t think I could find him more interesting, more compelling, but I was wrong- his character arc, his steady and poignant exposure makes this whole story. In book 1, we saw the savagery- we saw the facets of his ruthless, cold, beastly nature. But we got a transformative glimmer of his true nature at our riveting conclusion- that cliffhanger that let us see the broken man behind the beast. In Hidden Beauty, there is no hiding- Amelia unleashes his heart and soul, and he is breathtaking. LIke our source material, we find that the beast is really just wounded and defensive, but beneath the growl is a heart of gold- a shocking nuance of goodness and emotional complexity. A man who sacrifices for others, a man who will do anything for those he loves, a man who has now replaced anger with vulnerability and authenticity. While our title speaks to Leo’s central motivation as an alpha- his need to hide and protect his beauty, even against her will-this story, if anything, is the opposite of that- this is about exposing the beast. The evolution of our leading mean- as we, both reader and Hayley, fall more in love with him. Physically, he’s healing, but emotionally he’s unleashed- and I was enraptured.
The catalyst of all this growth, of course, is the realizations he’s drawn from the denouement of our prior story, realization about his beauty, Haley. I really loved her in our first book, and here we get to see her find more power in what was once a powerless romantic entanglement. But, with that power comes confusion and more angst- and at times I was frustrated by her. Leo becomes more open, and she becomes more closed off and confused. Of course, she’s conflicted- torn between two families who, in all fairness, have at best ignored her and her family and at worse irreparably harmed them. But her heart is so good- and as her fierceness comes out, I appreciated that Amelia found ways to keep her soft. Their chemistry is still combustible and scorching, but now with more emotional dimension, more nuance. We get a lot more emotional intimacy, and conflict, in this second installment- resulting in a more dimensional Leo and a less naïve Haley. I adore them together, and when they are both gracing the page, I simply can not turn the pages fast enough.
Like our first book, we have familiar referential moments to the classic tale we know and love- most notably the classic “will you have dinner with me” moment that is forever ingrained in my adolescent memory. But this second installment relies less on the architecture of the classic and yields more heavily towards the creativity of Amelia Wilde- and in that this story really shines. The characters have emotional journeys similar to the fairy tale’s namesake, but Amelia has defined them anew. The prose in the second installment had a different flair- but one I appreciated. This a decidedly more meta story- one that is more focused on the internal struggles and emotional angst between these two characters than the vendetta action and games surrounding them. The result is that the pace is slower, and we have less overarching plot progress, but instead we’re treated to a closer look at the conflicted emotional processing of both of these characters- one in a battle with herself over her confused emotions, and another desperately trying to be the man his woman needs. They are both full of contradictions and imperfections, but we now start to see their love blossom in a more solid, unbreakable way.
But, while we see these two explore their feelings further, they still have much to work out, not to mention the looming obstacle of the nefarious intentions of the Morelli foes. And, of course, we have another cliffhanger - what a doozie! I’m desperate for our final installment- and holding out hope that this beauty and the beast will find their HEA.
book 3:
WHAT AN EPIC FINALE!! Amelia has saved her most intoxicating, beguiling, and spellbinding book in this trilogy for last- the perfect conclusion to this erotic, sensual, and deliciously dark beauty and the beast masterpiece. I was transfixed from the first word to the last, desperate for our star crossed lovers to find a way to conquer the evilest of Constantines, but even more desperate for our beauty and our beast to be free of their pain.
Like Haley, I’m a captive- completely owned by the intoxicating dark magnificence of Leo Morelli. HE IS EVERYTHING. Hands down Amelia’s most compelling and nuanced hero to date. And, the Morelli beast is ironically the soonest Midnight Dynasty leaning man of all. Amelia has created such a profound and compelling character evolution for this long-suffering, tortured man. In this finale, we see the full spectrum of what makes Leo Morelli- from the savage, ruthless, carnal urges of his repressed beastly nature to the altruistic, unconditional, pure love he oozes as he selflessly sacrifices for his family and Haley. But we see the entirety of the man in this conclusion, and he is breathtaking. Whereas the fabled beast wore his beastly guise as the result of a curse, Leo has donned his beastly persona of choice. He’s created a weaponized visage that protects him from exposing his pain, his trauma, his heart. But now we see the most beautiful, soul shattering aspect of this man- his vulnerability. And while we still have our alpha, dominant, possessive Morelli king, we also have a wounded, gentle, devastating besotted hero. Amelia gives us both beast and prince- and THIS IS HOW YOU EVOLVE A CHARACTER! I was transfixed by every word. His past broke my heart, but his arrestingly beautiful way of loving Haley shattered it completely. The power of his heart was truly breathtaking, I felt his pain and devotion in my very soul. Our prior books helped us understand his dimension, but now Leo has to come to terms with all parts of himself. And it’s less about harnessing the beast, and more about accepting his goodness. He has to expose all of himself, and sweet and solid Haley loves him for every piece.
“I’m the beast now. The nightmare….
I see you for what you are. You’re a prince. My prince.”
Haley is his perfect match- the light to his dark, the submissive to his need for control. I loved how unwavering she is- she knows what and who she wants, and she never falters. Despite the countless obstacles her family and the vicious matriarch Caroline Constanine throw her way. She’s so pure of heart, but she’s not naive. She doesn’t want to tame the beast- she wants to accept and love him, and she also wants to help him see that he’s more than that. And in doing so, we also see her blossom, as his partner, as his equal. We see her become more than the poor Constantine captive, the pawn. I appreciated that Amelia found ways to keep her soft- but she also is POWERFUL. Their chemistry is still combustible and scorching, but now with SO much emotional dimension, because they finally are emotionally bare to one another. Completely honest, exposed, and it only strengthens their connection.
While the story has certainly veered from its beauty and the beast beginnings, Amelia finds ways to keep nodding at the themes of the original, but with her own brilliant twist. Our climatic is her best and most impactful referential moment of the entire series- I literally could not breathe I was so consumed by emotion. And, like our second story, this book is more metaphysical in focus- about the emotional wrestling these characters are doing with themselves, so our story remains deliciously meta. You feel so intimately connected to them both. And the prose is beautifully rendered.
And just when I was lamenting that this engrossing story was turning its final page for good, Amelia gifts us with an epilogue that sets us up for a spin-off that has me SALIVATING. One that I can only hope gives me a chance to dance just a little while longer with the beauty and her beast. By far one of the best stories yet in the Midnight Dynasty world, and one of my favorite Amelia Wilde series ever.
bookfreak08's review
5.0
Beast of Bishop’s Landing by Amelia Wilde is the trilogy combined in one final book with a bonus chapter. I’ve been a fan of Constantine and Morelli families already and when the hottest Morelli brother, Leo and the purest and nicest Constantine, Haley come together under a contract, fireworks light the skies. This book has everything:
carries_bookspace's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
joskypay's review
5.0
Secret Beast:
FIVE BIG FAT UN-PUTDOWN-ABLE STARS! Yup, I am making up words here because I CONSUMED this 'beast' cover to cover today! Set in the Midnight Dynasty world, Leo is not a good guy. Even among bad guys, he's a bad guy. When your in trouble though, sometimes the only way out isn't going to be the way you planned. Haley doesn't exactly have a lot to offer Leo to help her, and she NEEDS help! Leo has the help she needs, for a price....
So I love a complicated bad boy and this book was exactly what I needed! Leo Morelli is definitely not a black and white guy. In the real world very few things are cut and dry so I LOVE reading about guys who are very much in that shade of grey area. He's a bad guy with a chip on his shoulder and the only thing he knows is Haley brings light into his otherwise dark existence. Haley and Leo's journey is going to be a bumpy ride. Well filthy HOT and bumpy, exactly my kind of adventure, BRING IT ON!!!
Hidden Beauty:
OMG, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!? Never in my life have I wanted to throw my Kindle so bad as in the last half hour or so of this book! This author knows how to torment her characters (and her readers for that matter lol) I have had mixed feelings about Leo from the very start, I've liked him for Haley but it seemed like he was a total bad guy to everyone else. Haley just seemed to bring out the good in him, however much goodness he had, she brought it to the surface. She's very submissive but very strong too, an oddly perfect combo. They have both been through so much with their families I just found myself really crossing my fingers for them! This book has absolutely everything you would hope for, come for the dysfunction, stay for for the filthy hot sexy times! This whole book will have you on the edge of your seat and I am absolutely on pins and needles waiting for the conclusion!
Fallen Rose:
BRAVO Ms. Wilde! What a wonderful wrap up to the trilogy! To think of where we started, Leo and Haley have shown tremendous growth throughout! I was totally cheering for them in this one, they deserve each other and have come out better people from where they started for sure. Leo, my growly sexy Beast, and he still very much is a beast, I wish we had time to delve into his beautiful soul just a tiny bit longer, watch as Haley slowly mended his broken pieces. They are like an impossibly difficult puzzle but once you find all the pieces they match up perfectly. Haley is innocence and quiet stoic strength and I LOVED her. Their chemistry, LEO'S MOUTH, omg the sultry heat of this one will singe so be sure to keep some water and a fan handy ;) Really just LOVED this one and can't wait for Daphne's story. Also since we're talking about the Dangerous Press world, can we PLEASE see Caroline get her comeuppance? She's crossed the line to irredeemable and I hope she pays a price!
FIVE BIG FAT UN-PUTDOWN-ABLE STARS! Yup, I am making up words here because I CONSUMED this 'beast' cover to cover today! Set in the Midnight Dynasty world, Leo is not a good guy. Even among bad guys, he's a bad guy. When your in trouble though, sometimes the only way out isn't going to be the way you planned. Haley doesn't exactly have a lot to offer Leo to help her, and she NEEDS help! Leo has the help she needs, for a price....
So I love a complicated bad boy and this book was exactly what I needed! Leo Morelli is definitely not a black and white guy. In the real world very few things are cut and dry so I LOVE reading about guys who are very much in that shade of grey area. He's a bad guy with a chip on his shoulder and the only thing he knows is Haley brings light into his otherwise dark existence. Haley and Leo's journey is going to be a bumpy ride. Well filthy HOT and bumpy, exactly my kind of adventure, BRING IT ON!!!
Hidden Beauty:
OMG, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!? Never in my life have I wanted to throw my Kindle so bad as in the last half hour or so of this book! This author knows how to torment her characters (and her readers for that matter lol) I have had mixed feelings about Leo from the very start, I've liked him for Haley but it seemed like he was a total bad guy to everyone else. Haley just seemed to bring out the good in him, however much goodness he had, she brought it to the surface. She's very submissive but very strong too, an oddly perfect combo. They have both been through so much with their families I just found myself really crossing my fingers for them! This book has absolutely everything you would hope for, come for the dysfunction, stay for for the filthy hot sexy times! This whole book will have you on the edge of your seat and I am absolutely on pins and needles waiting for the conclusion!
Fallen Rose:
BRAVO Ms. Wilde! What a wonderful wrap up to the trilogy! To think of where we started, Leo and Haley have shown tremendous growth throughout! I was totally cheering for them in this one, they deserve each other and have come out better people from where they started for sure. Leo, my growly sexy Beast, and he still very much is a beast, I wish we had time to delve into his beautiful soul just a tiny bit longer, watch as Haley slowly mended his broken pieces. They are like an impossibly difficult puzzle but once you find all the pieces they match up perfectly. Haley is innocence and quiet stoic strength and I LOVED her. Their chemistry, LEO'S MOUTH, omg the sultry heat of this one will singe so be sure to keep some water and a fan handy ;) Really just LOVED this one and can't wait for Daphne's story. Also since we're talking about the Dangerous Press world, can we PLEASE see Caroline get her comeuppance? She's crossed the line to irredeemable and I hope she pays a price!