When Beauty Tamed the Beast

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty... Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.

Linnet is not just any woman.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love - in just two weeks.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love - in just two weeks.

If she decides to be very wicked indeed... what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?

©2011 Eloisa James (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

light and entertaining

When I search for books I all to often forget how much I enjoy Eloisa James. I guess I'll get another of her books right away.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast

This is a fantastic and wonderful book. Eloisa James has a great style of storytelling.

I could not stop listening, this book was amazing!

Would you listen to When Beauty Tamed the Beast again? Why?

Absolutely. From the stellar narration to the witty banter to the heartbreaking ending, the book was one of the few this year that stands out for me. Definitely will re-listen

Who was your favorite character and why?

Linnet of course, she was beautiful, charming, witty and sarcastic, she gave as good as she got but is kindhearted as well. I loved the heroine that was able to love the hero despite his foul character at first:)

Which character – as performed by Susan Duerden – was your favorite?

Hands down Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, she did marvelous job with his voice, I was amazed that a woman narrator can interpret someone so well, she made him come alive. Excellent job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Linnet got sick and was all alone

As a romance writer she's at the top of the list

If you could sum up When Beauty Tamed the Beast in three words, what would they be?

It's very entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of When Beauty Tamed the Beast?

Not any one in particular

Which scene was your favorite?

I did not have one I enjoyed the entire book

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I love the interaction between her characters

Any additional comments?

I will buy more Eloisa James

Excellent !!

Where does When Beauty Tamed the Beast rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book ranks at #1 or 2 tying with another one of Eloisa James's book. I so enjoyed the telling of Piers and Linnet's love story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved all the characters in this book. They had depths and emotion that jumps out and engulfs you into the drama.

Any additional comments?

I really loved the multiple story lines. I didn't want it to end.

Perfectly Happy with Beauty and Her Beast

If the five star rating is not a clear indication, I absolutely love "When Beauty Tamed the Beast." I cannot stop raving about how good it is. When you pick up an Eloisa James' book, you know that you will receive more than just a romance genre novel. Besides the fantastic research for the historical period, she brings the characters and the story to life. By the end of the book, I was crying and visibly shaking from the characters' torments. I bit my nails waiting for the happily ever after that I knew was sure to come. In my final stretch of reading, I stayed up from 11pm until 5am to finish the book.

The story begins like any fairy tale with a beautiful maiden. Linnet is a woman envied by all because she has beauty, wit, charm, and intelligence. She deserves a prince, and she even gets one to fall madly in love with her. Yet, he does not marry her, and she quickly falls from society's good graces. Suddenly, she is thrust in the midst of a beast. Piers is insanely attractive, so he does not look like a beast. His temper and brutal honesty renders him a beast. He does not worry about social graces, and uses his analytical eye to diagnosis all the people that come to his castle. The two protagonists are more similar than either realizes, and they quickly form a friendship that is destined to be one of the greatest romances ever told, that of Beauty and her Beast.

The supporting characters were all necessary, from the most inconspicuous ones, such as the duckling doctors in training that follow Pierce around to the necessary ones, like Linnet's maid. James has a talent of breathing life into every character. She even develops a side story about Piers' parents that is so charming that their relationship is a rival to Linnet's and Pierce's.

As I listened to the audiobook, Susan Duerden played a key role in bringing every single character to life. Her voices is fantastic! I especially like the French and Welsh accents that she uses in the book. For example, Gavin, the little boy that Linnet meets in the west wing, is absolutely endearing with Duerden's accolades. She is an excellent narrator, and I look forward to other audiobooks with her voice talents.

The setting is fun and just the right amount of difference from some of the versions of "Beauty and the Beast." Linnet travels from her home in London to a strange castle in Wales where she is to meet her future beastly husband. The castle is not a traditional one. It is used as a hospital, and Piers is an ingenious diagnostic doctor. He situates the various wings according to the patients' illnesses, so now the west wing really has medical secrets for Beauty to discover. Piers' cousin, Sebastian, rivals the main character and acts the counterpart to Piers. Where one is a diagnostic doctor, the other is a gifted surgeon. Sebastian reminds me a little bit of Lumiere from the Disney version of "Beauty and the Beast," but that is probably because of his French accent and the frivolous manner in which he dresses.

The action is well paced. The beginning is a little slow because it takes quite a few chapters before Linnet makes it to Wales to meet the fearsome beast. However, the beginning is very important because it sets the stage for details about Linnet's past that will be crucial midway and at the end of the book. Both her father and aunt are truly uninspiring and selfish characters, yet Linnet loves her family all the same. Her mother is an unfaithful trollop, and, still, her daughter loves her completely. There is a strong emphasis on forgiveness and love in the book that the early chapters layout.

The main action scenes are right near the end of the book when the fairytale comes crashing down around Linnet. I cannot say much about these scenes without spoiling the book, but once you hit this part, you will not be able to stop reading. I could not set the book down. I needed the afterglow from the happy ending. It is fast-paced, believable, and really illuminates the courage and unshakable faith that true love entails. It is my favorite and least favorite scene in a romance novel all at once. I have no idea how James accomplishes this feat, but I loved and hated the climax.

As with all of James' books, there will be a happily ever after. I loved it! It felt like a perfectly real fairy tale, if that makes sense.

I never thought I would love another book as much as "Scottish Rose" by Janis Laden. When "Beauty Tamed the Beast" is the one book that rivals my all time favorite romance novel. I recommend this book to mature individuals, after all there are some steamy sex scenes, who love a good twist to a well-known fairy tale. Make sure you read the author's note at the end to find out some interesting facts about doctors and the research that James put into this masterpiece.

“AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

Loved it!

I real enjoyed this version of beauty & the beast. I love the verbal Sparing LOL & the voices especially his when it is husky.
Thankful for the details at the end. I like hearing about the authors inspiration.

Witty banter, sexy story, good fun

I'm mad about Eloisa!

This book has witty dialogue, interesting characters, hot sex, historical and cultural references... It's really all a woman could ask for in a historical romance novel. I think I'm going to get my husband to read this one! (Winky face)

Oh, and the narrator is really, really excellent!

Strongly recommended.

Fun

The story is fun and the narration was well done. If you want light entertainment you will be pleased.

WONDERFUL

The story and narration were superb. I do appreciate that Ms. James does ample research to make sure her work is accurate for the period. I do not believe I have ever listened to a book performed by Susan Duerden (sp?) but can assure you I will now.

May be my favorite one yet. WELL DONE!!