When Beauty Tamed the Beast

Starred review from February 15, 2011

Her vivacious beauty, a rejection by her current princely flirt, and a series of false assumptions have the entire ton gleefully thinking Linnet Berry Thrynne is carrying a royal bastard--and, therefore, is now unmarriageable. So she finds herself accompanying the Duke of Windebank to the wilds of Wales as the perfect bride for his son, a brilliant physician and impotent nobleman with a beastly reputation, in order to ensure the succession. But Linnet is not pregnant, and Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, is not impotent. He is, however, in possession of a rather beastly temper, rude manners, and a determination not to marry or fall in love--a challenge that Linnet is more than willing to accept. Stubborn, passionate, and complex characters; a darkly romantic setting (a marvelous tide-filled pool comes to mind); and a fascinating dose of realistic historical medical detail thanks to a scarlet fever epidemic add to James's latest winner. VERDICT Graced with sly humor, addictive dialog, elegant prose, and a skillfully woven subtext, this smart, deliciously sensual twist on a fairy tale classic is a breathtaking addition to James's series of reimagined fairy tales. Readers will be clambering for more. James (A Kiss at Midnight) lives in the New York City area.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
After Prince Augustus Frederick reneges on his promise to marry her, Linnet Thrynne faces social ruin since everyonebased partly on her mothers scandalous past and partly on Linnets ill-fated decision to wear a ball gown that gives the impression she is pregnantnow believes Linnet is a hussy of the first degree. Fortunately, Linnets aunt, Lady Etheridge, comes up with a solution. Rumor has it that Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, is in the market for a wife. The irascible noblemans only requirement is that his bride-to-be be a woman more beautiful than the sun and the moon, a condition Linnet easily meets. Linnet is certain once the beastly Piers meets her, he will fall under her spell. But immediately after encountering the cranky doctor, Linnet realizes the intractable, intelligent, and altogether intriguing Piers is not exactly the husband for whom she bargained. With equal measures of superbly nuanced characters, sexy passion, and scintillating wit, James deftly fashions a fairy-tale-perfect romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)