First up is The Bookworm and the Beast by Charlee James. My book group's last two picks have been, to be frank, not great (a D+ and a DNF for yours truly) so I went diving into the depths of my digital TBR and convinced everybody to read this one. What I got was a very sweet read. How sweet? I should have read it over the Christmas holiday when my tolerance for toothaches is higher. Nobody but a category romance fan will understand this reference, but what we have here is Silhouette Romance vs. Harlequin Romance sweet. It's very sweet.

Izzy Simon is a librarian, which means of course she's taking on a two-week temp job to help her grandmother with the rent for her assisted living apartment (this rang depressingly true). Her assignment is to be the temporary assistant to Derek Croft, a grumpy children's book author (OK, sure). He doesn't want or need an assistant but with his family coming in for the Christmas holiday, he realizes Izzy is the perfect decoy to get his well-meaning stepmother, who keeps trying to set him up with various single ladies, off his back.

I mean, it's fine. It's very sweet and there's a scene with some wolves (seriously) in the woods that pushed this one into full-blown, eye-rolling, fairy tale territory. But the one thing that I kept niggling on? He's a children's book author. She's a librarian. Trust me - when librarians meet authors (especially successful children's book authors...) discussions are had. Basically there's no talk at all about their respective careers and they don't factor into the story at all - other than Izzy making a dismal salary and needing to work a second job to help out Grandma. Final Grade = C

Thanks for sending me an arc, I do appreciate it. I wasn't able to get into this one and haven't been able to get back to it so I won't be leaving an official review at this time.

Izzy Simon accepts a 2 week assignment to assist a children’s book author. He’s the gruff to her cheerfulness. She eventually starts to wear on him and he finds himself bending a little bit to her ways.
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it reminded me very much like a book I read about a year ago. Same set up, situation, and personalities. Because of that, it made it very hard for me to get into it.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I requested this out of the desire for a sweet Christmas read featuring a Beauty & The Beast retelling - it's now nearly mid-February, which speaks volumes about how difficult I found it to get through this story. The blurb promised all my favorite tropes (fake relationship! forced proximity! grumpy-curmudgeon-with-a-heart-of-gold! bookish-nerd-falling-for-her-boss!), but unfortunately 'The Bookworm and the Beast' didn't live up to expectations.

First of all, the circumstances leading to Izzy moving into Derek's home for the holidays were flimsier than tissue paper - it makes zero sense that his staff would pay for an assistant to stay with their boss for a fortnight. Who spends that kind of money on a Christmas present for their employer?! And was this out of spite, because they have to know what he's like and how he'd react to a stranger showing up out of nowhere, they surely didn't imagine he'd swoon for joy at Izzy's arrival!

Second, Izzy's character is entirely too cloyingly good and pure and virtuous, and still manages to be self-righteous and annoying. She gets on her high horse when Derek is reluctant to let her stay in his home (the nerve of him not wanting a complete stranger loitering about when he has no use for her!) even though he offers to still pay her for the two weeks if she'd leave straight away. I thought that was remarkably generous of him, but Izzy snottily comments about having to lie to the temp agency and gets defensive, asking "Have I been that obtrusive?"

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Isabel wasn't loud, or boisterous, or bothersome, but each time he tried to write, his mind wandered. Her mere presence in the house veered him off task. he didn't like the idea of someone looking through his personal things or snooping all over the house. Derek was just waiting to be interrupted, as if at any moment, a knock would sound on the door and he'd be ripped away from the project he was focusing on. 
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Well, YES, this is a guy who values his privacy and is very guarded around people, only allowing two caretakers who have been with his family since he was a child to occupy his house. You are an unknown quantity that he wasn't prepared for and shouldn't have to put up with in his home of all places!

Basically Izzy was completely unreasonable upon their first meeting - I don't think the average person would force their presence upon Derek, and if she's as desperate for money as she claims, she would've been at least tempted by his offer, but of course Izzy is too saintly to feel the pull normal human temptations. Instead she guilt-trips Derek into keeping her on after insulting him by calling his entirely reasonable reaction 'downright boorish'.

Third, the dreaded insta-love. Nothing on the page indicated any reason why they would develop feelings for one another, it was just presented to us au fait accompli. All of a sudden, reclusive hermit Derek is spilling all his deep dark secrets to Izzy, giving her 'more information in an hour than he'd told anyone in a lifetime' and then we have a page of him mulling over the significance of this act and wondering what it means, instead of actually being shown him building any sort of connection to Izzy that would lead to him lowering his defenses like this. 

Fourth, the big conflict of the book is absolutely absurd. Derek has a ridiculous overreaction and does a total 180 turn, going from being kind and caring and considerate, the type of man who rhapsodizes over her eyes ('a kaleidoscope of gold and chocolate that made him finally trust') to dramatically ruing the day he let her walk through his door and throwing her out in a fit of rage. As much as their romance felt unearned, so too was this conflict completely baseless and irrational, and their inevitable weepy reconciliation was the cherry on top of a bland, simplistic story with little depth or heart.

There’s no denying that this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. While there are no big surprises, there’s a certain awwww feeling when the author uses something out of the original and tweaks it a bit.

Derek is gruff and not very friendly but he’s hiding his more princely qualities behind a lot of hurt feelings from his childhood. Izzy has her own issues thanks to her mother and tends to run away when pushed (which grumpy Derek does more than once) but she really needs the money that she’ll get working for him. Time spent alone over the holidays has them growing closer but until they can figure out a way to resolve their pasts they’ll never have their HEA.

For those who love old Disney fairytales, I think this one will be a winner.

I have found myself lately reading more and more retelling of fairy tales, and The Bookworm and the Beast is a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Izzy is a librarian who needs a little extra cash to help out with her grandmothers living arrangement. She takes a temp job as an assistant for Derek Croft, a children’s book author, who sent his staff away for the holidays. However upon arriving at Derek’s house, Izzy immediately feels unwelcome. Derek wants peace and quiet, he doesn’t want or need a temp assistant and wants Izzy to go away immediately. Through a turn of events Derek suddenly needs Izzy to play his live-in-girlfriend to fool his family that he is settling down.

As Izzy and Derek get ready for his family to show up on Christmas eve, their feelings for each other start to manifest more. Derek, the loner who doesn’t decorate for Christmas, who does not trust women because of his mother starts to soften to the idea of decorating and looks forward to spending the time with his father, step-mother and step-sister, and of course Izzy. Izzy meanwhile loves Christmas and is enjoying decorating Derek’s house for the holiday, as well as spending time getting to know him better and his family.

Of course like Beauty and the Beast, there is a forbidden room, and wouldn’t you know it, Izzy goes in there and Derek has a fit. Thus ending their tenuous relationship. What I really liked about this story was that I could see the relationship between the original Beauty and the Beast and the more modern version of it. I loved Izzy, and her desire to take care of the only parent she has known, her grandmother, while opening herself up to trusting and loving Derek. Derek was a wonderful brooding male character who just needed to realize that not all women are out to hurt him. He had a lot of healing to do.

All in all a good modern retelling of an old classic.

Stevie‘s review of The Bookworm and the Beast by Charlee James
Contemporary Romance published by Entangled: Bliss 04 Dec 17

Beauty and the Beast seems very popular with romance authors looking to use a classic fairy tale as the jumping off point for their own story. It’s by no means my favourite adaptation for the trope, especially given that there usually has to be some sort of improbable event to bring the heroine into the hero’s environs; however, it’s the Festive Season, and I was swayed by the dog on the cover art.

Librarian Izzy Simon signed up with a temp agency to earn some extra cash while on leave from her regular job, her main motivation being the high fees charged by her grandmother’s preferred retirement home. Izzy was abandoned by her mother as a baby, and Gram is her only family, so she wants to do right by the old lady, even if it means the choice between landing herself in debt and having an actual holiday. Her first assignment is to act as PA to an author of children’s books while his regular staff take a break: something no one has thought to tell the author in question.

Derek Croft – the author in question – and I have lots of issues with how his career is portrayed as well – has been looking forward to a quiet couple of weeks in which to finish his latest book, free from disturbance by his staff. Since he seems quite capable of cooking for himself and operating household appliances, this doesn’t seem a big ask, and yet the staff have banded together and hired Izzy against Derek’s wishes.

When Izzy shows up, Derek tries to send her away, but she sticks around: long enough for him to be contacted by his interfering stepmother, who wants to drop round for Christmas with Derek’s father – and also with the latest prospective partner she’s trying to set him up with. Impulsively, Derek claims that Izzy is his girlfriend and then offers her extra money if she’ll go along with the deception. Izzy agrees, because she really needs the cash, and sets about making Derek’s home more Christmas-like.

At this point, Izzy becomes even more annoying, getting Derek and his dog into unsafe situations and generally interfering where she’s not needed. I felt very sorry for Derek – and his dog – but obviously he’s as lacking in common sense as Izzy, because he out and out falls for her. Meanwhile, Izzy is curious over what happened in Derek’s childhood to cause his mother to walk out on his father and just digs herself even deeper into the whole damn mess.

Sadly the mess gets resolved eventually, and there’s a really saccharine ending that is probably best avoided by any reader who thinks that Derek’s dog has more sense than the rest of them put together. Not exactly an inspiring debut from this author.

Grade: D

I loved The Bookworm and the Beast. It is a very well written romance with a good plot. I enjoyed the author's writing and the Christmas setting. I recommend to readers who enjoy a good romance.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a delightful, festive, fairytale-type contemporary romance. Abandoned by her Mum, Isabel Simon was raised by her Gram who now lives very happily in an expensive retirement home. Isabel is endeavouring to meet half of her Gram’s fees but her job as a librarian doesn’t pay a lot and she’s struggling. In an effort to ensure she can keep paying, Isabel takes a short term job over the festive season working as an assistant to a man who lives alone. He is Derek Croft and, when she arrives at his castle like home, he is rude, abrupt and claims he doesn’t want any assistance! However, a call from his stepmother makes him reconsider - Izzy’d be great at thwarting his stepmother’s matchmaking endeavours. The only problem will be convincing Izzy to help by pretending to be his girlfriend for the holiday season . . . . .

This is a brilliant contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast, an endearing version where pretending to be a couple helps them envisage being one for real . . . . A story where the reticent, bookish heroine endeavours to melt the heart of this prickly hero, bringing back memories of happier times, helping him to celebrate Christmas again. Can she succeed? Can she win his heart - and does she want to as he’s such a grumpy, contrary man?

This is a sweet modern retelling of the classic story with great characters - including a fabulous canine friend - just right to escape into when you want something a little festive, whatever the season really is! I hadn’t read anything by this author before but I’ll certainly endeavour to do so in future.

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

I happen to love a fairy tale retelling into the modern world. I’ve never really outgrown my love of fairy tales, and I hope I never do… should that happen I know it’s time to put away the glasses and not charge the Kindle. I’m thinking that probably won’t happen. Lizzy and Derek are the perfect modern day equivalent of Belle and her Beast. A quiet, often unsure of herself book lover and a man who has absolutely no belief in love or happiness outside of his very limited, self containing world. His redeeming qualities? He’s a writer of children’s books and his one love, his big, goofy, lovable dog. Lizzy’s enjoyment of books has lead her to the perfect career as a librarian. Yet, with additional financial issues hounding her she’s also doing temporary work whenever she’s got time off from the library. Which brings her to Derek’s imposing household for a temporary job as his personal assistant. What began as almost being turned away at the door has morphed into something quite wonderful – if only he could believe, if only their time together could last.

The Bookworm and The Beast clicked on every single feel good, love this story button of mine. Derek is just enough of a arse to be biting, and has just enough of a soft spot to be able to see quite another job for Lizzy instead of the one his staff hired her for. He needs a decoy to get his family off of his back about finding that perfect woman for him. He’s not looking, not interested and is tiring of the constant pressure – but a live in girlfriend would stop all of that nonsense, at least for the holidays. He and Lizzy might have started as pretend, but they grew into something so much more.

Lizzy is simply sweet, I don’t know that I’d really call her shy but she is unsure of herself, enough to be endearing not annoying. I enjoyed watching Lizzy work her lighthearted magical outlook on Derek, as well as watching them both grow into two people who complimented each other and really belonged with each other. Yes, there are misunderstandings on both sides, but that’s not surprising considering their far different outlooks. Their romantic scenes are for the most part fade to black, although we certainly know that they are attracted to each other. The bottom line is that I liked them and wanted them to find that happily ever after that they deserved – following along on that journey was a delightful experience.

I would definitely recommend The Bookworm and The Beast to any Romance reader who loves a fairy tale retelling, believable situations, and watching two people find their way to trust and love. I’ll be watching for more from Charlee James, for this story touched my heart.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

The Bookwork and the Beast is a heartwarming story of a worm and a porcupine and how the two of them clash, get to know each other and fall in love. It's a wonderful re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale that's sweet and warm.
Both Izzy and Derek have been deeply hurt before and suffer from abandonment and trust issues. While Derek has turned into a grump who shuns people, Izzy is warm, caring and full of life. She's just the sort of person Derek needs to shake him out of the cold prison he's built around his own heart.
I loved Izzy. While she had some serious self-esteem and trust isssues, she was also kind, compassionate and responsible. She saw the good in everyone and gave them a chance to be their better selves. Even though she did something she wasn't meant to, her intentions came from a good place. I liked that Izzy was aware of her own issues and shortcomings, and was willing to be brave and take a chance.
Poor Derek. He really didn't know what hit him when Izzy came into his life. And then he got caught up in her brightness and laughter. Only his own pain and bitterness kept him from reaching out and grasping the happiness that was right in front of him. I'm glad he finally woke up to the error of his ways and did his best to make amends. For all the hurt he held inside of him, I wanted him to find joy and happiness in his life.
Charlee James is a new-to-me author and I'm glad I gave this book a shot. I'm certain I'll try more of her books in the future.

For being Charlee James’ debut novel, The Bookworm and the Beast is sure to make you all modern fairy tale lovers happy with this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. At the very beginning we get to meet Izzy Simon a quiet bookworm whose Christmas holiday has been put on hold when she accepts a job as an assistant to Derek Croft. Wanting to make some extra money for the holidays, she never imagined that Derek would end up being a handsome but grumpy author who also happens to write children’s books. But when he makes it clear that he doesn’t need her, she is ready to go back home when he suddenly makes her a proposition that would end up benefiting both; to be his live-in girlfriend for the holidays. Yet everything starts to change the minute they start to get to know more about each other that would lead to them developing feelings for one another.

Derek Croft doesn’t have much of a Christmas spirit, he is happy with how his life is with his dog as a companion, but when Izzy arrives to his house as his assistant he starts to doubt the life that he has created for himself. He finds himself wanting to make her happy and that could end hurting them both in the end. Nevertheless, Derek is happy to spend time with her but when trust is broken between them he’ll have to decide if a relationship is worth it or not in the end.


I very much enjoyed reading this story, both of the characters have their own pasts and they somehow are able to help each other move on from them. The whole book has a Beauty and the Beast vibe that I’m sure a lot of people are going to love. The author has done a good job making the characters relatable which made them that much more interesting to read. Izzy is caring and a hardworking woman who happens to be love books and her relationship with her grandmother. While Derek can be a jerk at times, he is totally swoon worthy when he lets loose with Izzy. He has his own demons that he needs to overcome, and all he needed was a push from her to make him see what’s important in his life. Though the two are polar opposites, they compliment each other and their relationship ends up working so well. I absolutely loved the ending, you will not want to miss it! :)

***ARC provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

4.5 stars

The Bookworm and the Beast by Charlee James is a sweet holiday read and I really enjoyed it.

The storyline was entertaining, the characters were likable, engaging and I didn't want to put it down.
Derek and Izzy were fun getting to know and I loved how their relationship unfolded.

If you're looking for a quick, sweet and heartfelt read then you will love The Bookworm and the Beast.

*Get Your Copy Here*
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*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy

Beauty and the Bookworm is a sweet classical retelling of Beauty and The Beast. Unfortunately, this book just fell extremely flat.

The hero and heroine in this novel were two dimensional characters. Izzy, is the bookworm. Derek is the cold stoic hero. I felt that they lacked depth to each of their characters. Izzy was just way to bubble gum kind. And, I felt that was all she felt. She was way too forgiving and had no backbone. Derek, on the other hand, is a cold jerk. His reasons for acting the way he is just plain childish. Sure his parents and blah blah past happened. But, he is way too bitter. Also, his cruel words to Izzy and general coldness made me dislike him even more.

The circumstances that force them together are just extremely superficial. I felt that if the fake relationship stuff did not happen, then they would have not fell “in love.” Also, as much as I love Derek’s family and the whole Christmas theme it just didn’t work.

The romance between Izzy and Derek border on a too fast enemies to lovers romance. I felt that they just “saw” each other for the first time extremely fast and then is extremely forced.

Overall, I have got to say that this book is very dissaponting. There was a lot of room for potential, but I just did not feel it. It is adorable, but maybe not just for me.

4.5 stars Excellent contemporary billionaire holiday romance. Izzy is a librarian who is working for a temp agency. She is hoping to raise the money to pay for her grandmother's nursing home expenses. Her temporary job is working for 2 weeks. Upon meeting Derek neither of them was expecting what they found. Derek is a writer. He gave his household staff the holidays and what did they do? They hired him an assistante. Both the main characters were hurt as children and now find it difficult to trust. Derek doesn't know what to think of who Izzy is then complications arise. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. James.

The Bookworm and the Beast is by Charlee James.

Isabel Simon was raised by her Gram, her mother never having any interest in being a part of her life. Isabel’s Gram loved her and worked very hard to provide for her. But Isabel still always wondered why she wasn’t wanted by her own mother. Then, in college, she was again hurt by a boy she gave her heart to. After that she vowed that the hurt wasn’t worth it.

Now, she has a job as a librarian and lives a quiet life in her small apartment. Her Gram is living in a retirement home and Izzy, wanting to repay her for all she did for her, is paying for half of the rent. But it’s taking a toll on her finances. To make extra money over Christmas, Izzy has taken a job as an assistant to a man that lives alone. Little did she know that the decision to take this job would forever change her life.

Derek Croft is a children’s book author and lives alone in his family’s home which is more like a castle. Derek’s staff of two is on vacation for the holidays and they have surprised him with hiring an assistant to help him while they are away. When Izzy shows up at his front door, he wants nothing more than to send her away but somehow he can’t bring himself to do it.

Derek also has pain in his past. He and his father were abandoned by his mother. They never knew why, she just disappeared one day. Even though his father eventually moved on, Derek has never gotten over the loss and betrayal. He will never allow himself to be hurt like that. As a result, he is as prickly as a porcupine. But all it takes is one sweet, happy assistant to start breaking through his icy exterior and revealing the man hiding underneath.

Derek’s stepmother wants Derek to find a wife and is trying to help by introducing him to women. To fend off her matchmaking over Christmas, he asks Izzy to pose as his live in girlfriend. But it doesn’t take long for make believe to soon become more.

“Something about her was bewitching him.
She was sweet, and calm, and real. No coy secrets, no layers to unearth, just simply Izzy.”

This is definitely a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Except this beast had an adorable St. Bernard dog as his best friend. Derek hasn’t celebrated Christmas since his mother left. But Izzy is determined to bring Christmas to Derek’s castle. To make this the best Christmas he and his family has ever had.

“They were from different worlds, and once this charade was over, she’d go back to hers, and he’d forget she ever existed. That’s what people typically did to her anyway.”

Neither Derek or Izzy felt they deserved true happiness. Even as their feelings developed, both were just waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. Or perhaps looking for an excuse to force an ending before they could get hurt. Can they truly start a relationship, give their hearts, if they haven’t let go of their pasts?

“When a woman like Izzy came around, you didn’t let her walk out of your life without a fight.”

First, I fell in love with the cover. This is a new to me author. It was a very sweet Christmas fairy tale. And I did enjoy it. But, in all honesty, it didn’t “Wow” me like I hoped it would. The characters were adorable and of course, so was the dog. But I never got the tummy flutters or the fast heart beats that I wanted. The sexy scenes were a fade to black sort so it’s not a steamy book. So, I was just a bit underwhelmed. But as I said, it was still enjoyable. A sweet Christmas fairy tale.

The Bookworm And The Beast contains fade to a black sex and very, very mild cursing (less than five times). If those things bother you, you have nothing to worry about here.

This book read like a fairy tale and a Hallmark movie all wrapped up in one, and that is a compliment.It had a Beauty and the Beast vibe mixed with a dash of sweet romance, a little bit of dramatic excitement, and a smidge of fake relationship which was all really interesting to read. In this day of books following the formula of “boy meets girl, they have lots and lots of sex, suddenly they are in love”, I really appreciated the way that these two actually got to know each other outside of the bedroom over the course of the book. The epilogue was wonderful – it was the perfect ending to this story.

(slight spoiler but nothing serious to end of this paragraph) My only complaint about this one is that I wish that Derek and his father had connected more than a rushed scene at the end.

I requested and was generously granted an ARC of this story via NetGalley and the publisher. I was under no obligation to write this review.

-‘Why couldn’t the client have been a sweet old man, or bald and frumpy? Instead, she had to trail a darkfeatured version of Thor, who had the disposition of a porcupine, around the endless mansion while trying to avert her eyes from his backside.’-

This is a sweet, light, contemporary romance. There is quite a bit of swearing for those who might be offended but there isn’t any descriptive sex. It is quite formulaic and not very original in plot but it is well written and an enjoyable read. It seems to be geared towards young adults but would likely be suitable for teens and older adults as well.

I received a copy from NetGalley and was not obligated to leave a review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

As a reader, for me the stories that are the most memorable are the ones that thrive on simplicity. Whether it be a nod to a favorite classic tale or an inclusion of a few of my favorite subjects, what appeals to me most is that the tale is realistic and the characters can make me as a reader stop and take notice. The Bookworm and the Beast fit all my criteria for wonderful reading. Izzy and Derek are relatable individually and as a couple. In times of frustration and despair is when a person is at their strongest. With a little time, a lot of love and a bit of holiday magic, Ms. James captures more than the imagination, she puts the emotions on notice as well.