korinnimini 's review for:

A Thorn in Every Heart by Kate King
5.0
adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
5 ⭐️ | 3🌶️ 

what to expect:
🌹 Beauty & The Beast meets Anastasia retelling
🌹 Bodyguard romance
🌹 Found family
🌹 Touch her and ☠️
🌹 30yr old FMC
🌹 HEA, Standalone

A big thank you to Kate King for sending me an eARC to read and review. This was my first book of hers and won’t be my last.

We meet our FMC Alix, an almost 30 year old who walks in on her husband and best friend having an affair. She runs off to her grandmother’s to get away and meets our MMC Daemon and they have a steamy one night stand. He mistakes her for her grandmother, Belle, and kidnaps her, bringing her to a world that Alix recognizes as the supposedly fictional kingdom from her Nana’s published books. She’s then tasked with helping the fae break the curse on their kingdom by marrying King Thorne.

Alix is not down to be a pawn, but she does agree to help. She does her best to fill the shoes of Belle, and angst ensues. The King is a narcissist and it doesn’t make sense how her sweet Nana could love him. Daemon is the reluctant bodyguard who has to be with her at all times, and oopsy they fall for each other.

I was locked in the entire time because I really wanted to know the “truth” of the curse. Whew, what a journey!

The banter between Alix and Daemon was *chef’s kiss* and I ate this book up. I brought it along with me on a work cruise and I never wanted to step away! My all time favorite movie is Anastasia, and Dimitri/Anya’s tension will forever stick with me. 

There’s lots of fun pop culture references, touch her and 💀 moments, SPICE and found family amongst Alix and Daemon’s friends and family. At times I almost forgot I was meant to be reading a spicy retelling of Beauty and the Beast/Anastasia, I think anybody can pick this up and enjoy it 😊 not to mention the ART for each chapter, such a treat.

Favorite quotes:

"In my head, I’m a slut. But in reality, I just read a lot of spicy books."

"You’re in my head every f*cking second reminding me exactly why I shouldn’t be looking at you. It’s infuriating. You’re infuriating."
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