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Review

5 stars!

I loved this book! A contemporary, non-fantasy or paranormal retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this is a dramatic, fun, sexy, swoony, suspenseful and intense story with the most beautiful romance. With fantastic tropes of royalty, enemies-to-lovers, single parent, boss/nanny, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity and a 15-year age gap, there’s so much to enjoy about this book, and it’s such a great read!

King Sebastian of Messalina (a fictional European country) is a 36-year old widowed father of three who lives an isolated life, locked away with his young children and his staff. His family is long-rumoured to be living under a curse, and after the tragic deaths of a number of family members, and his late wife (even if it was only an arranged marriage), he is determined to keep his children safe and has removed them and himself from public life to do just that.

Bellamy is a 21 year old American woman who has been living abroad with her father since she was a young teenager. When he gets into trouble, she winds up at the royal palace where the staff recognise her as the breath of fresh air needed to take on the role of the children’s nanny. Both Sebastian and Bellamy require convincing, and there may be a bit of coercion to get her to take the job, but she is immediately taken with the children, who adore her in return, and she quickly comes to love her new role.

The big problem with Bellamy moving into the palace is the raging attraction between her and the king. She knows he is wildly out of her league, and given the curse on his family, Sebastian is determined to never get involved with anybody ever again. But from the first moment they meet they are lusting wildly after each other, living together, becoming a part of the children’s lives, and she is snarking back at the king and inappropriately flirting to keep him on his toes, and they are powerless to resist what is building between them.

“I’d like very much to stay. I adore your children, and despite the odd circumstances around me being their nanny, I’ve had an incredible first week with them.”
I believe her. And that’s what’s fucking me up.
“I need to hate you.” I confess.
A soft grin. “So I’ve gathered. How is that working out for you?”
“Depends on the moment.”

It’s a fast-moving story, and it doesn’t seem too long before Sebastian and Bellamy are giving into their wild passion for each other and Oh. Holy. Wow. Sebastian is dark and dirty, controlling in the bedroom, he’s a dirty talker and he likes things rough and kinda dirty. The sexy time is intense and wildly hot, and it’s a reflection of the mad passion that these two have for each other.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t ask me to tell you all the dirty thoughts I have about you. Because not only would I have told you, I would have shown you.”

They can’t keep away from each other, and wild sex soon turns into so much more as they find themselves falling hopelessly, and I God, I loved watching them come together! I was effortlessly swept up in all that they feel for each other. It’s sexy and hot with so many sweet moments with the children, and seeing Bellamy break through Sebastians walls and get him to smile again is so heartwarming.

He takes my hand and places it on his chest over his pounding heart.
“It hasn’t beat like this in years. I’m not sure it ever has. What you’re doing to me, Bellamy. Cannot be undone.”

Their love for each other is all-consuming and the swoon is glorious as Sebastian holds nothing back, coming out with grand declarations and filthy talk, and I loved these characters and their deepening relationship so much.

“Everything I am is going to become yours. My mind, my body, my heart. All yours.”

There are obstacles that they need to overcome, but they’re a functional couple. They are open and honest with each other, and I loved seeing them work through their challenges together. But the curse still terrifies Sebastian, and when danger comes for the only woman he has ever truly loved, he is prepared to put everything on the line to protect her.

I felt a whole rollercoaster of emotion with this book. I laughed, I teared up, I fanned myself and I swooned, I felt the suspense, and those final few chapters had my heart pounding. The book does end on a cliffhanger, but J. Saman has been so kind to us and the next book is only a few weeks away.

This is the first book in a duet, and the start of a longer series, Once Upon Ever After which will branch out with more fairytale retellings for other characters, and I cannot wait to continue on with this series.

Such a great read, I loved this one!

5 stars.

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Sean Masters and Desireé Ketchum, and I loved this audio! They do a great job with the story, bringing so much heart and heat, and I definitely recommend this one.

 

Once Upon Ever After

 

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