Thorn in His Side

By: Helen Juliet

Narrated by: Kieran Flitton

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The last thing beautiful, inexperienced Joshua Bellamy wants is an arranged marriage with the terrifying Darius Legrand. But if Joshua wants to save himself and his family from being thrown onto the streets by Darius’s father, he has no choice.

However, when Darius goes to extreme lengths to rescue Joshua from near-death, Joshua has to wonder if there’s more to his beastly husband than he previously thought. 

Darius Legrand, a former captain, is used to being manipulated by his cruel father, but when Joshua is dragged into the feud between their families, he decides something has to change. 

Protecting Joshua is one thing, but Darius knows that falling in love can’t be an option. Someone so young and beautiful could never give his heart to an older, ill-tempered brute like Darius. 

Joshua is determined to bring joy to Darius’s life again, and Darius refuses to let Joshua hide his sweetness from the world any longer. Over time, it becomes clear that despite their differences, their hearts are drawing closer together. 

But can happiness ever be possible for a rose and a thorn, when Darius’s father will go to any lengths to see his deadly game through? 

Thorn in His Side is a steamy, stand-alone MM romance novel featuring tender bubble baths, a stubborn but loyal horse, thunderstorms, enough healing touches to mend any broken heart, and a guaranteed HEA with absolutely no cliff-hanger.

©2020 Helen Juliet (P)2020 Helen Juliet

Retelling of one of my favorite fairytales!

Thorne in His Side by Helen Juliet is the retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast, with an MM twist and minus the talking objects. Nonetheless, it has your villain, beauty and beast (not complaining there, who doesn’t love a misunderstood scared brut?).

Our beauty, virgin Joshua Bellamy, is forced by the villain to marry his son, Darius, our ‘beast’, in order to save his father and his company. Without giving the story away any further, I will say that Thorne in His Side delivered a wonderful story with all the feels!

And the narrator? Wow! I love me a narrator with an accent and Kieran Flitton went above and beyond, I love it! His voice drew me in and had me til the very end! I will definitely look out for this narrator in the future.

Overall, if you love fairytales with a little dirty (wink wink), then Thorne in His Side will suit you just fine. Five lovely roses for Helen Juliet’s fairytale. Happy listening all!

3 people found this helpful

I thought we were done with virgin ad nausea issue

didn't finish. so much hang up on one of the characters being a virgin (not by choice but because he's too pretty) and therefore not worthy of the other. then he was praised because no one else will ever touch him. it overwhelmed the rest of the story. "oh no, you haven't had anal with me, you don't love me". I have no clue what happened to evil dad and I wanted more zues. not sure I'll listen to anything else by this author.

Love it!

I have really loving these retelling of classic fairytale that Helen Juliet is writing. Joshua and Darius is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast which is one of my favorite fairytale. I just love this twist on this retelling and Kieran Flitton makes me love this even more. He does an absolutely fantastic job with this narration. I just love listening and couldn't stop listening. Just absolutely love this one!

Wow

OMG - This author just continues to produce outstanding book after book! In Thorn in His Side, Darius and Joshua come together in story that is both beautiful and emotional!
Darius and Joshua have amazing chemistry that flows off the pages! The additional characters are also extremely well written (especially the horse) and you can’t help but feel a pull to them!
Kieran Flitton is a newer to me narrator but I know he’s going to quickly become one of my favorites! His performance was absolutely outstanding!
This is one book you shouldn’t miss!

Beautiful

Beautiful retelling of one of my favorites Beauty and the Beast. Really like the two MC’s. I also really enjoyed the new to me narrator!!!

A wonderful mm retelling of Beauty and the Breast

Just like others have stated, Helen Juliet's Thorn in His Side has all the thrills, feels and sighs from the original but with a sexy mm main couple. Darius begins very much the beast he is portrayed to be, but the innocence and charm our beauty Jousha has melts that icy exterior. I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings and mega bonus when it has an mm twist. So Thorn in His Side mega checked all my boxes for me. It is on my will read again list.

*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review*

New take on an old story

I enjoyed this retelling of beauty and the beast with a modern twist. Darius and Joshua find strength together to face Darius’s evil father who seeks to control their lives. Lots of feels here. This is my first story by this author and I look forward to reading more.

Kieran Flitton’s narration is first rate!

Wonderful love story

A sweet retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast. Juliet brings her characters to life as they struggle to find themselves and hold onto their blossoming love despite the ugliness trying to keep them apart . The narrator’s voice is perfect !

Wonderful story and narration.

I loved this MM take on Beauty and the Beast! Joshua and Darius were so completely likable and the villain really was evil! Helen Juliet wrote a really enjoyable story and Kieran Flitton narrated it wonderfully.

A beautiful m/m retelling of Beauty and The Beast.

Beauty and The Beast is one of my favourite fairy-tales, so when I learned that Helen Juliet, one of my favourite authors, was writing a contemporary m/m version of it, I was stoked! And I am so, so in love now that I have read it!
I loved the initial resistance from Darius’s side, when he’s trying to avoid his feelings not to put Joshua in danger. And Joshua’s initial fear and then the gradual thawing between them until a beautiful love blossoms…. Of course there’s an evil, unhinged man (Darius’ father) that tries to destroy their happiness, but their love will prove stronger than hate.
There’s also an adorable little pup, Zeus, a protective battle horse, Heph, and a number of fierce employees, which complete Darius & Joshua’s little family.
Loved Kieran Flitton's narration!

Wow!!

I love fairy tale stories and Helen Juliets retelling of beauty and beast was just perfect. I really think this book is amazing and even more so with Kieran Flitton as the narrator. His take on the characters has made it so much better! Would really recommend listening to.

Fairytale with a twist

Story: Retelling a classic tale in an original and surprising way is quite a difficult task, but I think Helen Juliet did a great job! I loved how unique and complex the MCs were. They are not your obvious Belle and Beast impersonations, there is much more to them and it is clear from page one.
The plot is also very well developed and despite the fairy tale in the background, it does not feel repetitive.
Overall, it's a really good book and I loved reading it!

Narration: A brilliant voice! I'm a huge fan and hope for much more from this narrator!

A fantastic modern fairy tale

What a great retelling of beauty and the beast. It has all the wonderful elements of a fairy tale, love triumphs over adversity. I cheered Joshua and Darius on. Booing at the horrible villain of the story, Darius' father Victor. Don’t get me wrong this is not a pantomime retelling but a brilliantly crafted story that pulled on my heart at times and had me shouting support for Joshua and Darius. Helen certainly drove up the anticipation as I desperately wanted Victor to get what he deserved.
I have not heard Kieron Flitton narration before and I thought he did a marvellous job. The characters were clearly defined and he enhanced emotional pull of the story.

Wonderful retelling of a fairytale!

OMG!! Helen Juliet made it again!! The story of Darius and Joshua is an amazing modern retelling of the classic tale of Beauty and the Best with a MM twist. This is a story of love and courage, and how two lovers found inside themselves and in their love for each other, the strength to overcome all the obstacles and defeat evilness.
In this context Mr. Flitton's performance, with his smoth profesional voice, managed emotions and personalities of the characters so expertly that helped to made this wonderful book even better.

Love it

This is a modern Beauty and the Beast story, Darius is in this case the beast an ex-military men that have been manipulated by his father all his life and Joshua the beauty, a young man with a soft heart and want to save his father company and have to marry someone because is the right thing to do so he can help other people. I hate Victor he is Darius evil father who forces these two to marry for his own agenda, But these two end up overcoming all the obstacles and finding their HEA. The narrator is Kieran Flitton and I love his voice, he was perfect for this story. I highly recommended this audiobook!

A modern day Fairytale.

Roughly based on Beauty and the Beast but in modern times.
Helen Juliets writing of this book gripes you from the beginning. You have the young beauty in Joshua, a good looking beast in Darius and then the wicked father who tries his hardest to ruin everyone's life he ever comes into contact with.
Set in a fairytale castle that's long been neglected. The twists that come along throughout the book keep you interested from the start to finish.
The characters are well written and flaws in the characters make you fall in love with them. A great story that I can recommend.
I read the book and listened to it on Audio. However you choose to read this book, you won't be dissapointed.

beautiful and intense

listening to kieran fitton bring Joshua and Darius's journey to life was such a magical and wonderful experience

i felt every ounce of emotion in this story i just loved it i cried at times and got angry aswell but there were also some laughter and heartwarming moments aswell

i love how helen Juliet's writing and Kieran flitton bringing the incredible and magical words to life is perfect i would highly recommend Thorn in his side to others