Didn't realize it was part of a series when I asked for it and I must read in order, it's just how I am with books. Sorry I never got to this one.

Beloved Beast by Karyn Gerard is a fantastic read with a twist. Book 2 in her exciting “The Ravenswood Chronicle”, it can be read as a read alone. See, ” Beloved Monster”, while not necessary to enjoy book 2, book 1 gives the details of the hero’s past. This is set forty-eight years after book 1.
This is a unique twist on Historical romance, with paranormal romance elements. In “Beloved Beast”, the debauched Viscount Ravenswood has a new name, Luke Newman. He works with MI6, and his nephew, Fred Parker, is a SIS officer. Luke is now a widower, and lonely, so working with his nephew helps abate his loneliness. He helps to relocate compromised or returning spies from war torn Europe. Luke is scarred from his 1885 carriage accident, which also gave him heightened senses, made him cool to the touch, he has a grayish coloring, disfigured, increased strength, heightened libido and maybe immortality. Picture a Mary Shelley experiment type thing, without the monster.
Gilliam Browning, seduced a German business man for information on the “Enigma” machine, then she returns to England and is suddenly in grave danger from a German spy. Enter…Luke to keep her safe. Now both are in grave danger.
“Beloved Beast” is a mixture of Gothic horror, World War II romantic suspense, mystery and an outstanding spy novel. Whew, what an exciting tale of second chances, romance and an unabiding love! Ms. Gerard pulled this incredible, dramatic story off with style, brilliant writing and an uncanny style that grips and captures the reader’s heart. I was held spellbound! “Beloved Beast”, is one such story, that I found I could not stop reading until the last page. This story lingers long after the last page. Highly recommended for fans of historical romance with paranormal twists, powerful plot plots, vivid details, and WWII fans. *There is explicit sensual scenes, however, they are done with taste and not offensive, to this reader, however, this is NOT an erotic story.*
A very enjoyable and satisfying read with twists, romance, the feel of historical suspense and the hope of finding happiness, love and a HEA. Awesome read! Karyn Gerard has written a story with her usual aplomb, her eye for detail and her desire to give readers a fulfilling story that will keep them turning pages in this thrilling story of spies, romance, danger and love. Magnificent!! A must read!
I received a complimentary copy.
Rating: 5
Heat rating: steamy
Reviewed by: AprilR

Beloved Beast takes place forty-eight years after the first book in the Ravenswood Chronicles, Beloved Monster, to find that the protagonist Lucas Madden is now a widower of over eleven years and working for England's SIS for the war effort during WWII. The reformed libertine now known as Luke Newman devotes himself to the missions his nephew Fred Parker, a SIS officer, assigns him to abate his loneliness. When Luke is given the task of protecting a beautiful retired spy, whose identity has been compromised, their instant connection awakens dormant feeling in Luke. Not much rattles Gillian Browning but the first time she sees the ravaged visage of the former Viscount Ravenswood she screams in shock. Once her composure is regained she finds that she is equally drawn to the reserved and scarred man who is now her protector. As the two join forces what starts off as a business arrangement soon grows into what amounts to a twice in a lifetime chance at happiness for Luke.

Karyn Gerrard's handling of the complexity of Luke's character explodes in imaginative and brilliantly devised plotting. To encompass lifetimes of experience and produce a portrayal that has evolved in an incredible and unorthodox way was spectacular to read. Once you are introduced to Luke it is hard not to be absorbed in his history and character. Gillian was beautifully focused on her growing attraction to Luke and their exchanges were thoughtful and provocative. Ms. Gerrard's choice of a WW II espionage setting was entertaining, suspenseful and added a wonderful energy to this already intriguing work without overshadowing the overall romantic theme. The small historical touches presented by this author contributed nicely to the general feel of this story. As readers finish the last page of Beloved Beast they will be already be craving the next installment of the Ravenswood Chronicles!

If a man can live forever...

A lifetime ago, the debauched Viscount Ravenswood lost his life, only to be revived as as new man with a new name...and a new desire for love. Now, scarred and monstrous of visage, Luke Madden has outlived his beloved wife. Crushed by loss and despair, he swears to never feel such a love again. For such a perfect mingling of souls could never happen twice in one lifetime. Especially for a beast such as Luke believes himself to be.

...how can he love forever?

Gillian Browning is a bold woman of action. But her spy activities in pre-war Germany have made her a target. Now in London, she is being hunted by ruthless Nazi operatives. Luckily, a fellow spy knows someone who can protect her—Luke. Taking Gillian to his former home in the country, he reluctantly finds himself caring for her more than he thought possible, and to his surprise she reciprocates. But when a threat from Luke’s own past increases their peril, he must decide if he has the true strength to love—and trust—again




Review:




I have to say I was so sad when I read the ending of the last book in this series.




A man so deeply in love with his wife, but has been so altered that he stays young as his wife grows old. Then to have her taken away even earlier. I was very sad at the end of the first book and then when he relives it in this book had me crying. The book is not all sad though. Luke gets a second chance at love with Gillian. Charged with protecting Gillian after it comes out to the Nazi's that she was a spy. Gillian and Luke go into hiding together alone, where all their feelings and their pasts come to light.




This the second and final book in the series. It does start out right where the first book left off. Though this could be read as a stand alone title I would recommend reading the first book to get a better understanding of Luke. This book has a backdrop of WWII England which gives this story more intrigue and tension. I loved that both characters are strong and kind of no-nonsense kind of people. Luke and Gillian had me much more invested emotionally in them. I think because we already knew Luke and what happened to him that more time was spent on them getting closer. Like I stated before this looks to be the last for Luke. I mean you could go on forever with him not dying and trying to love other women, but that would get old really quick. For me ending it with Luke and Gillian living together and being a couple is perfect.




4Stars




*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked up BELOVED BEAST by Karen Gerrard, based on the title, but having read this author before I figured it would be good. I wasn’t wrong and luckily for me … good turned into GREAT!

In the early 1800’s a very debauched Viscount Ravenswood lost his life, only to be revived some time later as a new man with a new name and yearning for love. Only now the once handsome man was horribly scarred with a monster like visage. He married a woman he fell deeply in love with and they lived a quiet life together blissfully happy for 37 years before he lost her. Luke knew that you didn’t get second chances on meeting your soul-mate more than once in a lifetime. One other fact was for some unknown reason, Luke was not aging and still looked like a young man while friends aged out and died. Watching the people you cared for age and die was a penance he was finding difficult to bear.

Now as a spy Luke was being asked to assist a young woman, Gillian Brown, whose spying activities in pre-war Germany had been discovered making her a target. Luke found himself caring for her more than he should and recognized that she was finding him equally fascinating. But knowing his own reality could he put his heart on the line and love again? But first, he had to get Gillian out of the country and safe from the clever assassin whose job it was to silence her forever.

Bottom line: Extremely fast paced, interesting and original plotting. I truly enjoyed every page of this lovely spy thriller… Highly recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau

When I read the first book in The Ravenswood Chronicles I wasn't overly thrilled with it. Yes it made for a nice read but it lacked something. That very something is what I found in the second book of the series, Beloved Beast.

Ah, wartime romances. They have the ability to inject into a romance suspense and intrigue without trying too hard. in this case, Gillian had been a spy in pre-war Germany but was now home. Unfortunately, her activities as a field agent have made her a target. The Secret Intelligence Service is sent in to protect her and if necessary relocate her. Conveniently enough, Fred, Luke's nephew, is the head of his SIS division and thinks there is no one better to protect her than Luke. The decision is made to get Gillian out of London so Luke takes her back to his hometown of Charlwood. Luke is still grieving for his long dead wife, but there is something in Gillian, something that may have him wanting to take a chance on love again.

Luke is back and I like him, even more, this time around. What I'm enjoying about him is how he is now, versus the monster turning to human. Normally, I like the world building but his wasn't cutting it for me. It was the previous leading lady I just didn't like. This time around we have Gillian and I like her much better. There's also a few other characters, primarily Fred and Joan, that really added a nice spark to the story.

Luke and Gillian's story has this nice backdrop of wartime which adds a nice twist to the romance. Running to save her life, trying not to fall in love again, her life in peril, the great characters, Beloved Beast turned into a quick read that was hard to put down. Fans that like a little interesting twist to the historical romances, will enjoy this book.

reviewed by Jac

A slight paranormal story of intrigue and suspense.
Luke and Gillian are brought together during the war when her cover as a spy was blown.
Great drama,action, history,intrigue,passion and romance.
Enjoyed reading, kept my interest through out the book.

This book was a nice interesting read, kept me entertained on a rainy day!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1905760324?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

WOW! My preconceived notions for this book where blown away. I went looking for a book with a different twist and this was definitely it. BELOVED BEAST (The Ravenswood Chronicles, #2) by Karyn Gerrard is a mix of gothic horror, historical WWII romantic suspense and historical WWII spy novel. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone with all the information the author has seamlessly peppered throughout this book.
The debauched Viscount Ravenswood Lucas Madden died from a carriage race accident in 1895 only to be revived in a Mary Shelley like experiment. Unlike Shelley’s beast, Lucas has become a man with heightened senses, strength and possible immortality, but he has also become outwardly disfigured, and cool to the touch with a strange gray cast to his skin. He hides his face as much as possible and explains away his strange coloring as ‘photophobia vitium’.
Working with his nephew in the emerging MI-6, with his new identity as Luke Newman, he helps relocate returning spies from the war zones in Europe. He is assigned the safety of Gillian Browning, who seduced a German business man for information on the Enigma machine, returned to England, and is suddenly in danger from a German spy.
As the two return to Luke’s former home in the country to wait for transport to Canada, Luke cannot believe that Gillian brings warmth back into is body and life. He never believed he would find love again after the death of his wife. Gillian wants the truth about Luke’s past and no longer wants her time with him to be limited, but the threat to their lives is catching up to them.
I could not put this book down. The concept made it unique and yet it also read as a traditional historical romantic suspense. There is explicit sex, because the beast has a heightened libido and yet it never felt gratuitous. The plot was well paced and the characters where all fully fleshed out and believable, well as far as you can believe in a reanimated man. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking for the next in the series!
Thanks very much to Kensington Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Loved it!

Beloved Beast (The Ravenswood Chronicles) Kindle Edition
by Karyn Gerrard
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very much the stiff upper lip, Keep Calm and Carry On, British romance somewhat Gothic, somewhat wartime (WWII). Is there deep unrelenting passion, not really. Are there sex scenes? Yes, but not the kind that leaves you panting and wanting more, for yourself and the heroes. In Gothics and in wartime romances, there should be deep emotions due to the mystery and the short time the characters may have. Is it here? Not really.

The Beast is Luke, a former debauched nobel raised from the dead by a scientist a la' Frankenstein. He is badly scarred, physically, and his skin is an odd color as are his eyes. Which makes perfect sense for him to be a spy, after all, you want to stand out when you are a secret agent. But we are told, not shown mind you, but told by the author that he has deep emotions that he keeps hidden. We are told that he lost thelove his life in a hurricane, then later we relive it with him. But all of this tangled hidden emotional baggage feels as if it is at a distance.

The same is true for the she spy, Gillian, whom Luke is protecting as she tries to escape Europe for Canada. She had previously seduced a wealthy, Nazi connected German for information then bailed out as quickly as possible because that makes sense, THAT wouldn't alert him at all, much less his wife who watches him like a hawk. Gillian, herself, was chosen for her looks and her personality and apparently her virginity for the position of spy, because that's important. That factoid seemed to be slipped in so that she would be relatively innocent for the reader.

The story picks up with Gillian being in danger in England, so her spymaster taps his Uncle, Luke, the Beast, to take her to a relatively secret location where they will stay for a short time while Gillian's exit from the country. Knowing that they will only be together for a short time and are attracted to one another, Gillian and Luke decide to embark on a purely physical affair. Of course, other things than their sex lives take place. However, other than their frequent meals – that almost always lead to sex - we don't see them do anything else. We are told in a hunk of text that they read and talk about books and movies, etc... But we never are involved in those conversations. In fact, Gillian has more conversations with the residents of the local town about things other than emotions.

The heroes show such promise with their past. That promise is never quite realized as this is a skeleton of a romance of great length that has been pared down for some reason.

The Nazi, lone wolf assassin is far more connectable emotionally because we see inside him, we aren't told what is going on inside him.

If this were re-written and expanded, it would be a wonderful love story. A mirror to Frankenstein. Unfortunately, it is not. It is a fair romance if there is nothing else to read or you are looking for something to help you sleep

3 out of 5

https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Beast-Ravenswood-Chronicles-Gerrard-ebook/dp/B01GBAIXCE/

The book started out good and then I lost interest. I didn't care too much for it.

(Goodreads and later Amazon)
"Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review"
A story set in Great Britain during World War II that mixes several historical elements (for instances, the Bethnal Green Tube Station incident) with literary references and allusions in a rather creative and interesting way.
I was more interested in reading this book as a second chance romance with a tortured hero than as a story where intertextuality plays a definite role, though. Both main characters are strong and appealing and I liked how the heroine accepted the hero’s visage naturally, in a non-nonsense way. I also enjoyed the fact that the hero was revealed gradually, slowly. He really is a charismatic persona, with his strange eyes and skin color... loved him!
I also liked reading a story set in England during World War II, with lots of British colloquialisms (although I’m not able to assess its accuracy) and a really well done historical context.
This book is part of a series but I didn’t feel the need to read the previous one, there’s enough background about the “beloved beast”. I love the cover!
3.5 stars
I'm grateful to the author, Karyn Gerrard, the publisher, Lyrical Press, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.

This is a low rating due more to personal preference than anything. I was turned off quickly when I found out heroine was the sort of spy who had sex with a man to gain information. Not only that, but he's married, anx she makes excuses for it saying it's okay since his marriage is loveless. It's actually not okay, even then. But I continued forward. Then I got hung up on the hero and how he blatant offers sex to the heroine, a woman he barely knows. It was just...odd. it seemed out of place and way too sudden. Not my cup of tea.