Title: Beast
Author: Pepper Pace
Series: Estill County Mountain Man #1
Genre: Contemporary
Format: eBook
Pages: 280
Dates Read: June 17, 2020
This is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Lt. Christopher Jameson, aka Beast, is a Marine who was born with a bilateral cleft palate. He had multiple surgeries as a child but is still very deformed and scared from them. He avoids everyone but his team because people usually react negatively to his face. When a curvy young woman starts showing up in the gym at the same time as him he is determined to ignore her but fate has other ideas.
“He was just a beautiful man waiting for someone to see past his outer wrapping.”
I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling! Christopher may have a ugly appearance but he has a beautiful soul. I adored him. When he meets Ashleigh he realizes if he wants a family he has to work for it because his looks will not make it easy on him. Christopher was so sweet, caring, and supportive with Ashleigh, especially when it comes to her losing weight.
It took awhile for me to warm up to Ashleigh. In the beginning she was very shallow and judged people on appearances, even when she hated people judging her for her size. She gets better as the story goes on and her relationship with Christopher develops. She does overcome a lot and become a better person in the end.
This was a great retelling and I feel it will be one that I reread in the future. If you are looking for a good contemporary retelling try this book.
Red-Haired Ash Reads 