A review by loverofromance
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

 You can count to three," He said approvingly. "That bodes well for our offspring. 

 
First Impressions
What an incredible story and I can't believe I never read this or I must have read it before I had Goodreads. There were some scenes I could swear I had read before but as its probably been more than 15 years since I have read it, and it was never marked as read and I never did a review for it, I thought reading this one would be the perfect time especially for the readathon. I have to say that I absolutely loved everything about this book. It wasn't quite a six star read for me....but it got very close. Eloisa James wrote a true masterpiece with this book and this book is testament to her writing wit and how she is able to capture all ranges of emotion so tactfully. Its a unique beauty and beast retelling with vibes of Dr. Death from House MD. 

 “I suppose you think I’ll fall in love with you,” he said.
“Quite likely.”
“How long do you give yourself?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Two weeks at the outside.”
And then she did give him the smile—dimples, charm, sensuality and all.
He didn’t even blink. “Was that the best you’ve got?”

First Line
Beautiful girls in fairy stories are as common as pebbles on the beach.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant
 The Heroine: Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne

 The man's got a terrible temper. Brilliant doctor-or so everyone says-but the temper of a fiend. 

Summary
Linnet is the beauty of the ton but after losing the interest of a foreign prince, there are rumors that she is pregnant but all she is is blessed with a heavy chest and lots of silk in her dress. But her father is determined to get her married off before a huge scandal erupts. He arranges a match with the father of the Earl of Marchant, who is known as a doctor but also a aristocratic beast and is a recluse. She goes to Wales, where is lives in his castle, and she has two weeks to make the Earl fall under her spell of charm and wit to convince him to marry her. But her task is a bit greater than she imagined, but Linnet is a whirl of positive energy and before long Linnet and Piers are slowly falling for each other, but there is a conflict they are to face which could tear apart everything they have built...

 - It wasn’t the flirtation, but the similarity to himself that intoxicated him. In her own way she was a female version of him: dislikable. Too beautiful, too intelligent, too sharp-tongued. 

What I Loved
EVERYTHING!! This book was just right and really fit my mood and I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book because it had me laughing and kept me entertained from beginning to end. I was charmed by Linnet. I loved her take on life and how she isn't afraid of everything. Her father thinking she was pregnant my goodness I couldn't stop laughing, it was brilliant. Our hero Piers, is broody and a recluse, and doesn't like people too much. He has the worst bedside manner, but he knows how to doctor to people so there is that haha But his interaction with Linnet was endearing. He is so sarcastic and dry in his humor, but she only sparkles in response and it seemed like they really reflected off of each other just right. I was so fascinated in how this arranged marriage would happen and I have to see it was a bit different than I expect from it but this author definitely keeps the reader on their toes in this one. While there is plenty of wit and charm and humor, there is also some difficult topics tackled as well in this one. I was beyond excited to see how Eloisa James would dig deeper into them while also keeping this romantic charm with such poise and it was handled just right. This series especially is evidence on why her writing is so delightful. I loved the darkness in the hero being balances with such light that is Linnet. The third act conflict was so heartbreaking and man my heart still hurts for these two and what they overcome. But man Piers definitely knew how to work the situation just right. 

  “I don’t mind being a fool for you,” she said. “I love you.”

What I Struggled With
Honestly I am not sure that there was anything that I truly struggled with. It didn't quite impact me emotionally to the point that I would give this one a six star rating, but its still a favorite read and a five star. It probably could have delivered just a bit more swoons and it would have upped it to six stars....plus I don't like third act breakups although the line for this one was a bit blurred. And I felt like the ending was a bit too rushed, but that is probably a "me" issue.

Narration
PERFECTION!!! Seriously this is the best narrator for historicals especially regency or victorian. I loved how she just made this book come alive and she really was spot on for the humor and wit in this book and reflecting it just at the right time. And the personalities for our hero and heroine was just right.

Overall View
When Beauty Tames the Beast was a superb story in every single way that melted my heart, brought simple yet beautiful emotion to the forefront, a love tale that rivals that of the original....full of magic and wonder on every page. Eloisa James needs to be on your list if you love retellings. 

  ...their eyes met in a way that had everything to do with love, the kind strong enough to snatch someone back from the grave, the kind that never fades and never fails. The kind that has nothing to do with beauty, temper, or damaged legs.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, England-Victorian Era
Character Types: Alpha Male, Broody, Earls, Doctor/Nurse, Reclusive Hero
Themes: Scandals and Disgrace, Funny, Scars or Trauma, Disability
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Fairy Tale Retelling-Beauty and the Beast

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Suzanne Enoch
Elisa Braden
Loretta Chase

Song This Book Inspires
POV by Strings of Paris (Bridgerton)

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone if needed.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
 Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Susan Duerden