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lupiizzz08's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
gretareadsromance's review
5.0
I am absolutely loving this trilogy! The Beauty and the Beast retelling is perfection.
Hidden Beauty picks up right where the first book leaves off. So much more is uncovered about Leo Morelli and the war between the two families. I couldn't read this one fast enough! So looking forward to the next book but I know I'll be sad to see this couple's story be complete!
Hidden Beauty picks up right where the first book leaves off. So much more is uncovered about Leo Morelli and the war between the two families. I couldn't read this one fast enough! So looking forward to the next book but I know I'll be sad to see this couple's story be complete!
duanur's review
These characters are messed up but I love them. Somehow Leo and Haley work well together. I loved seeing Leo with his walls down in this one. Haley is emotionally unstable throughout this book but it makes sense since she's been through a lot in such a short time.
I am sick of these cliffhangers I need to read the last one asap.
I am sick of these cliffhangers I need to read the last one asap.
theresarahel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bookishlynomes's review
4.0
This trilogy is getting better and better! Hidden Beauty picks up where Secret Beast's cliffhanger left off and gives the reader more insight into Leo Morelli's and Haley Constantine's relationship. They still have a lot to work through, individually and as a couple, and need to get a better focus on balancing their strengths and weaknesses, but the growth they exhibit in the second installment is proof they can work through anything together.
In addition to the relationship, this book contained a lot of action and intrigue. But what can you expect when the Constantines' and Morellis' are involved! Leo's family definitely had more of a focus in this book and it was really great to see how they all interacted. I also loved getting more insight into Wilde's other characters (hello Hades and Persephone!), and seeing how the B&tB world interconnects with other series.
Wilde is a fantastic author and wonderfully created a really in-depth storyline. As a reader, I became fully invested in the Morelli and Constantine dynasties in this series; more so than I expected after getting brief views of these characters in other series. There is a quality about the characters that is hard to describe but Wilde makes you feel. Hidden Beauty is fairly different from its predecessor, Secret Beast, but is equally as intriguing and grabbed my attention throughout. It was fantastic from start to finish and I really look forward to seeing how things get wrapped up in the third and finale installment!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author and Candi Kane PR for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
In addition to the relationship, this book contained a lot of action and intrigue. But what can you expect when the Constantines' and Morellis' are involved! Leo's family definitely had more of a focus in this book and it was really great to see how they all interacted. I also loved getting more insight into Wilde's other characters (hello Hades and Persephone!), and seeing how the B&tB world interconnects with other series.
Wilde is a fantastic author and wonderfully created a really in-depth storyline. As a reader, I became fully invested in the Morelli and Constantine dynasties in this series; more so than I expected after getting brief views of these characters in other series. There is a quality about the characters that is hard to describe but Wilde makes you feel. Hidden Beauty is fairly different from its predecessor, Secret Beast, but is equally as intriguing and grabbed my attention throughout. It was fantastic from start to finish and I really look forward to seeing how things get wrapped up in the third and finale installment!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author and Candi Kane PR for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
serialbookstarter's review
5.0
Book 2 in the series keeps up the fast paced drama…I did put this book down for awhile not because of boredom but because I didn’t want to rush it. Hades makes a phone appearance…he and Leo have that pain loop in common. Leo goes through ALOT of physical trauma in this book. It ends on a cliffhanger that makes you want to move on quickly to the last book in the series.
kfriend's review
5.0
4.5 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, Hayley. 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 naive Hayley. 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.
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, Hayley. 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 naive Hayley. 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.
khaleesimod93's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I really can't believe how psychotic Caroline is! And what she is doing to Haley and her family! I thought I liked her in Winston's stories but my goodness. I can't believe this. Haley is so strong. I'm so glad that she has been able to help coax the real Leo out of his cage he keeps himself in. There is so much to unravel with their story. Leo truly deserves happiness. It sucks so bad that he can't see it. I'm so angry that Cash has been so selfish and won't listen to Haley. I can't believe he helped kidnap her. Leo please find her!!!!
sandizzlereads's review against another edition
5.0
I so love this series, Amelia Wilde just has a way with words that grabs your attention and will not let you go. This is the second book in this trilogy so yes there is a cliffhanger, but honestly that’s one of the many things that I love about this series. This book picks up right where Secret Beast left us and takes off at full speed.
Leo and Haley are still at odds with their feelings for each other, not wanting to admit to themselves what they are actually feeling. This is why I like trilogies, I like the in depth character development that you get because you have more story to get it.
As with Secret Beauty this is a dark and steamy romance, and it could possibly trigger some, and it is the second book of three, so yes it does end on a cliffhanger but all of that is ok! Because we get to spend more time with Leo and Haley and that just makes everything better.
Leo and Haley are still at odds with their feelings for each other, not wanting to admit to themselves what they are actually feeling. This is why I like trilogies, I like the in depth character development that you get because you have more story to get it.
As with Secret Beauty this is a dark and steamy romance, and it could possibly trigger some, and it is the second book of three, so yes it does end on a cliffhanger but all of that is ok! Because we get to spend more time with Leo and Haley and that just makes everything better.