2.5 stars

This is a standalone clean romance.

The idea was intriguing, but the writing was a little immature.

You'd really think that I've seen it all, being the Beauty and the Beast addict that I am, reading all retellings I can find and what not, but this story is actually pretty original. This beast is different and he actually has some very interesting powers and an unusual way of dealing with his guilt.

The plot does change considerably and, even though you do expect the happy ending, where the beast turns into a "normal" guy and lives with the girl happily ever after, the way the story develops is a little bit different.

This beast is actually a human man, with a body covered with scars, and secrets that he doesn't want to share. But when Aribelle starts working for him, he begins to open up and we start to see this other side of him.

We also have the jerk who wants to get the girl and slay the beast, and oh boy is he annoying. Thank God we don't get to see him much.

And I was glad that Thadeus and Aribelle spent so much time together, we don't get that many pages where they're apart. But I was surprised to see how fast everything happened, I thought they were going a bit too fast, they were already hugging very soon in the story (yeah, ok, maybe hugging is not that much big of a deal), but hey, she was working for the guy. A hug can be a huge deal. It was the beginning of something here.

I also loved how this is a very realistic story, but still has a bit of fantasy and magic in it. It was very well done :)

This was probably the most mediocre, bland ,and juvenile BATB retellings I have ever read. The book was blander than having chicken with no season on it.

Cannot stand paranormal books! I find them extremely offensive. I don't recommend. Thanks!
carolintallahassee 👒

At first I wasnt sure if i would like this modern beauty and the beast twist. After all every author is doing one. I was sucked in from the first page. Drawn into a world of supernatural and longing.
Okay first off, I hated Bella. She was so completely stupid to the real world. She was so self obsessed it was hard for her to see past her own nose. She did however grow the tiniest bit on me. The way the author added other books and characters was annoying. I would have loved more of her OWN stuff and things that werent taken from bits and pieces from other books. Her descriptions left me breathless and able to 'see'the scene playing out.

What a charming, easy read! This is a modern telling of Beauty and the Beast, and the main characters of Aribelle, Thaddeus, and Gavin are all well developed and have a complete story arc. I usually don't enjoy re-imaginings of fairy tales, but this one was engaging and left me with a smile on my face.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Reading Copy

I normally don't reach for this type of books - contemporary paranormal romance - but I'm in a fairytale mood and decided to give it a try. It didn't blow me out of the water - it was a little cheesy in many places, but it was a gently read none-the-less and a pleasant diversion. A few things bothered me:

1. the "beast" isn't really a beast - the plot twist made him a hero who is only beastly because he has bad temper when he's healing (who doesn't?)
2. Aribelle is a sad character - she's a loser in every respect - what person has never had a job before ever? And she can't cook anything beyond a can of soup yet cared for her ailing father for 9 years.
3. The beast is also a bit of a loser. He's independently wealthy, but holes up in his house and still pays for a cleaner to come in to clean and cook - wouldn't they have discovered his secret immediately when they have to do his bloody laundry every day?
4. They live near a small city yet no one is curious about him - no gossip even though he's in town every night healing strangers.
5. How many accidents can happen in a small town? It's kind of ridiculous, and it sounds like this town is post-apocalyptic with the way people treat one-another and go shooting/stabbing/raping every night. He should move!
6. How has Aribelle not been beaten senseless by now by marauders? Or even her douchebag neighbor Gaston/Gavin whatever.
7. There is waaaay too much time devoted to food and the preparation of food in this book. It really drags.
8. I don't feel the building romance - it's just kind of weird and cheesy.

Yet, despite all this nonsense and so much more, I couldn't help but enjoy it just a little. So I gave it 3 stars, because someone out there will really enjoy it and I'll recommend it to patrons who enjoy gentle paranormal - I didn't know gentle paranormal could exist, but it does, so I'm glad I know about it.

Victorine E. Lieske wrote Beauty and the Beast retelling in a modern setting perfectly. When I first read the synopsis I was wondering how Lieske would pull this off. I love Beauty and the Beast retelling, but not everyone can do them well. I'm happy to say I was excited to read this book all the way to the end in one day.

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange if an honest review*

https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Beast-modern-day-Beauty-retelling-ebook/dp/B06XJGWJFP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495479332&sr=8-1&keywords=Falling+for+the+Beast+Victorine+E.+Lieske

In this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Thaddeus Walker is a recluse who hires Aribelle on a temporary basis to clean his house. For some reason, she is drawn to helping him when he’s hurt and wants to get down to the bottom of where he goes at night.
This was an ok story. It started out good, but I didn’t agree with how quickly Aribelle got nosy, so it diverted my attention a bit. I would like to try something original from this author in the future.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This was a solid 3, maybe 3.5. I enjoyed the elements of the story that were modernized, and how they fell for each other. I enjoyed Aribelle's determination and her ability to see beyond Thaddeus, the 'Beast's' gruff exterior. Seeing his heart open to Belle was a lovely gradual transformation. Belle definitely falls in the good, honest, kind heart category and she brought 'Beast' back into the real world that way by softening his heart. Cute, fun read, with some magical elements. Loved the twist with the modernization and what the 'Beast' can do as his magical power, and a clever retelling. I just wanted a bit more from the characters, maybe just seeing inside them more?? There was just a slight lack of immersion in the story for me that makes for a 4 star read.
Thank you for a fun read though! Definitely worth a diversion.

I'm a huge fan of Beast books and this one did not disappoint. Angsty Romance is my weakness! 5 solid stars!

A new twist on an old favorite. I liked this modern-day Beauty and the Beast. The story was fast paced with lots of drama. The characters really bring the story to life which made me want to know all of their secrets. An entertaining read.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast in Modern times was a great read, I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day, Victorine has written both Aribella and Thaddeus really well, I love how she retold the love that developed between Beauty and the Beast in this story. I can't wait for more stories like this.

I found the story be good with an interesting plot and characters. Good over all writing.

Falling For The Beast By Victorine E Lieske was a very pleasurable read.
It was the first book I have tried by this Author and it was definitely a positive experience for me.
This was a refreshingly modern clean take on that old classic fairy tale we all love Beauty And The Beast.
I have got to admit this Disney story is my overall favourite, It's just such a romantic Yarn and gives me the warm fuzzies inside.
Falling For The Beast really does its namesake justice and it's one of those reads that is for me a real pleasure to discover all over again.
In this modern take, we have Aribelle going to work for Mr Thaddeus Walker a grumpy scarred individual who always seems to be injured.
Thaddeus has been cursed by a witch for his life choices resulting in him becoming a beast when he loses his temper. There is also a second part to this curse, the ability to heal others, but it comes at a terrible price, Thaddeus takes the injury and pain into himself leaving him with awful scars.
Until Belle, Thaddeus had no hope that anyone could see beyond this and love him for himself.
Falling For The Beast follows the narrative of the original tale very closely and it's a fabulous portrayal that was greatly enjoyable.
The story is told superbly and flows beautifully and in my opinion is well worth a read.
I received a free E-Copy of Falling for The Beast and this is my own honest opinion.

I can't resist retellings of Beauty and the Beast. This one is great, I couldn't put it down, totally recommended.

This was a quick, engaging new take on the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale! While I would have liked it to be a bit longer, I really enjoyed the unique aspects of the story that Victorine made her own. Some parts were rushed and left me wanting a bit more, but overall it kept on the edge of my seat and wanting to keep reading to see how it ended.

Aribelle is down on her luck after spending the last several years caring for her ailing father. Now that he has passed, she is struggling to pay the bills. Having no prior job experience due to her full-time caregiver status, she grasps at the first job offered to her - a maid for a grumpy man in a large home, who has run off the last several maids sent over from the agency. Although Thaddeus Hatcher is assumed to be old and cranky, Aribelle soon discovers that he is actually quite young, and there is a gentleness that lies behind his gruff demeanor. When he returns night after night bleeding and covered in new scars, she is determined to discover his secret. But what she finds is a curse and one she is determined to break.

The chemistry between Aribelle and Thaddeus was strong, and I felt that the author did a good job building up their relationship. I would have appreciated a bit more attention on their challenges, as I felt many of their arguments were resolved too quickly and could have been dragged out to help develop their bond. However, I still enjoyed learning about the curse and all it entailed. The creativity behind this idea - that Thaddeus can heal others and take on their pain for himself - to be wonderful. So many stories these days seems to recycle the same concepts, but Victorine Lieske has made it all her own. It was very well done.

I am interested in read more by this author, though I hope her other books are a bit longer. It would help me embed myself deeper in the story and allow me to fully understand her characters. Clearly a very talented author and one to watch in the future!

3.5 Stars

Retold fairy tales are my catnip. I cannot say no to them. When I had the opportunity to read Falling for the Beast I knew that it didn’t matter if I’d never even heard of this author, I was going to read it by golly. I am so glad I did. It is not a steamy novel by any means, but it was almost perfect for the retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Thaddeus is grumpy and rude, refusing to participate in even the smallest of conversations. Belle is outgoing and lively, refusing to let a scarred hermit dictate what her day will be like. Sure, his reactions bother her but she keeps coming back.

I loved that each time Belle received a new revelation she handled it with strength and courage. Some of this story requires a bit of suspended belief, but hey, it’s paranormal, what do you expect? Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed reading this couple’s story and experiencing how they fall in love.

ARC provided for an honest review

A very well written Beauty and the Beast love story. Could be better in the steam department, as it stands, Falling for the Beast by Victorine Lieske reads more as a YA novel, but still very good and kept my interest from the beginning to the end, which felt slightly cliffhangerish. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.