Happily Ever Chapter
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ > > Judging a Book by it's Cover < < The cover is very busy and gives the eye many things to look at. Two bare-chested men stand closely, facing one another, while surrounded by flames. Lower down is a large... home? Font choices are strong. Synopsis sounds like it could be modeled after a Beauty and Beast-type fairy tale. > > Looking Deeper < < POV ~> Third-person Guilt-ridden over his wife's death, Dante closed himself off from society. This fueled rumors and speculations, townsfolk began referring to him as "The Beast". His influence and power in the city did nothing to make them less fearful of him either. Beau was a recent transplant to town, taking over at the community center as the substance abuse counselor. He saw past Dante's facade, deeper than anyone's bothered to look. An event for the center brought them together, socially, but bonds beyond that were formed that night which neither expected. As they get closer, outside forces worked against them to bring them down. This was a difficult one for me to get through, for some reason. I am normally able to read and enjoy Andrew Grey's work effortlessly. TAMING THE BEAST felt like a more laborious trek than an enjoyable journey. The characters were okay and while I enjoyed them as a couple, sometimes I was not fond of the individuals. Secondary cast was well-rounded. The plot was dynamic, but the flow felt a bit sluggish - a little less fluid than usual. There were several conflicts, internal and external. While the external conflicts were solved, no long-term outcomes were mentioned about those involved. The internal self-awareness moment was glossed over and rather anticlimactic. Predictability was low. The conclusion was solid and satisfying. Overall, the story concept (loosely taken from a popular fairy tale) was enjoyable and I imagine other readers may like it better, but it just was not one of my favorites from this author. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.05 ~ Stars: 4 ========================== ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
