Although I'm not typically a fan of mafia romances, I read this all the way through, just to know what happened next. This book is for fans of a morally gray love interest, with content warning for overdose, suicide, and cheating spouse. Only two real spice scenes, and it certainly ended on a cliffhanger - and a bit unsatisfying, since our two characters never fully reconciled or had a happy ending.

Oh, I love fairytale retelling. every retelling has its own vibe and I love that every time I read them it transports me into a new world. But this world is dark and twisted.
This book was good and amazing in terms of writing and storytelling..
I loved the story parts in the books.

A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast) (Fairy Tales From the Underworld, Part I)
L.C. Moon
This tale just didn’t grab me. I could not get into it. I felt no connection to the main characters.

An intense dark romance which builds from a soft introduction to the story. I really enjoyed it though did skip the more intense parts but it was good.

The story I loved as a kid the x rated naughtiness that’s I need as an adult. And I loved every minute of it.

This premise is exactly up my alley and no matter how far I got into the book, all I could think about is how this was such a messed up dynamic, that it isn't the kind of safe story that represents the community and that even in Disney's version of the story, she always had a choice. Right off the bat we have our main character desperate for the touch of the person who is trying to kill her brother and keeping her hostage.

I enjoyed the majority of this book it was the very end that got me scratching my head. It was a page turner book for me, however, I found the suspension of disbelief really hard at the end of the novel. It really took a dive and left not so much on a cliffhanger but not a satisfying ending. It's book is just ok for that reason. The journey to the end was good, but the ending really docked points for me.

Beauty and the Beast? Yes.
Dark? Yes
Mafia? Omg Yes
Traumatised MC? Yes

So yeah it ticked all of the stuff I like BUT it didn't do it for me. If you are looking for something new that will knock your socks off this not it. It is still good if you fancy another dark mafia romance but don't set your expectations high if you are looking for something unique.

Writing is good though I can't blame that. It was an easy read, writing wise.

This is a very intense book. It is a dark romance. Please pay attention to TW and CW. The characters are rich and multifaceted. The world is so intricately designed. The plot takes you on a very fast rollercoaster with a whole lot of curves. Prepare your hearts, they will be wrenched. Don’t go into this with any expectations cause wow. I honestly want to know what is going to happen next.

Well. This is sure to be a memorable read. I super appreciate Net Galley and the author for the ARC copy.
This is a darker take on Beauty and the Beast. I’m not a huge fan of re-telling of tales as old as time, but I decided to give this a whirl. Even after the trigger warnings I did have a few moments where I considered strongly just putting this down. The writing is good and the story moves along at an excellent pace. It treads very deeply into multiple underbellies of the world, and the author does it with skill. Can’t say I’d recommend as a cozy retelling, but if you want a twisted up reimagination of Beauty and the Beast that goes all the way off the rails… this, this will be the book for you.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5/5

What to expect
🦋 Dark Mafia Romance meets Beauty and the Beast retelling
🦋 Forced Proximity
🦋 BDSM Kink
🦋 Possessive, morally grey MMC
🦋 Touch Her And ☠️
🦋 "I'd burn the world for you"
🦋 Third person POV
🦋 Cat and Mouse
🦋 Spice

“He was a monster indeed, the truest kind of monster. He would not be satisfied with only making her cower in fear; he would also make her crave his comfort and render her desperate for his touch.”

My Thoughts
When I say I want morally grey, this is it! Call me delusional and colorblind all you want because the red flags were nonexistent 🥵 This is not the type of book I would normally gravitate towards, but OMG I was hooked after the first chapter. The writing was beautiful, almost poetic at times (please note that the character POV does randomly change throughout some of the chapters, which may be confusing but overall, I think LC did a good job at helping you understand which perspective you were reading through). Some of the character’s inner thoughts seemed to be over explained but I ate it up regardless. If they hurt, I hurt. They cried, I cried. If they felt giddy and joyful, I wiped my eyes and felt it too.

Think: Mafia romance meets Beauty and the Beast. This is not a romance nor is it really a love story – this is dark, depraved, gritty, and dare I say… sexy(?). She was his mark, a job, that’s it but to her, he was a tall, dark, and handsome stranger at a bar. After being ditched by her coworker and losing her wallet, she accepted his offer of a ride. She has information he wants, and she becomes his prisoner until he can get what he needs.

"No, he hadn’t saved her out of mercy. He’d saved her so he could be the one to make her beg and cry. So he could be the one to break her and savor her broken parts in all the unholy ways he craved."

I worried that the book would be more sex than plot, but I was wrong. The story that LC created is incredible. The character arc Laura had might be one of my favorites I have ever read. She endured heartbreak, trauma, and pain no one should know at her age but through it all, her growth was incredible to see unfold. Kanye could do unspeakable things to me, and I would never see the red flags he waves. Laura is an innocent dove and Kayne is a devious monster in a handsome body.

“I may be a monster. But I’d fight for you. I’d kill for you. Go to war for you. If you only knew… what your Monster would do for you.”

If you want a happy ending, you will not find it here. The book cracked open my chest, wove a carefully intricated web around my heart, like a cushion, while slowly crushing it and ripping it to pieces like a meat grinder. It ends on a cliffhanger and in my mind, the events that led up to the conclusion were a nightmare that we will wake up and find were never real… This book will haunt my dreams (but in the best possible way).

Dinner is at 7, don’t be late… 🫦
“Don’t play with fire, little girl,”

🥀If you enjoyed Haunting Adeline and/or Hunting Adeline, I would add this to your TBR.

Playlist
🥀The Death of Peace of Mind – Bad Omens
🥀Martyr – KiNG MALA
🥀No Mercy – Austin Giorgio
🥀You Put a Spell On Me – Austin Giorgio
🥀 Dangerous Hands.- Austin Giorgio

Thank you to NetGalley, and L.C. Moon for allowing me to review this eARC of A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast).

This book caught my attention at the very first sentence on the page titled “day one”, I love the way the author used decried the scene while the girl was being watched. I enjoyed that it was word vomit of lengthy descriptions. It was the perfect amount! And Kayne! I fell in love with his mysterious and bad news demeanor from the very beginning.. he made me want more, Just like Lauren well until he betrayed her! Overrall, I love this book. I can definitely see this as a beauty and the beast retelling in some ways.

My impression was that this was very dark and spicy and came with lot of trigger warnings. The story and sexual themes were not that dark or unusual. The trigger warnings could be used in any typical "thriller" novel. Overall, not exciting, not original, not great storytelling. I didn't hate it completely but I don't recommend.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE TRIGGER WARRNINGS!!

This book was my introduction to smut, bondage, etc. and it blew my mind. Simply because of the graphic nature of the book a few parts were hard for me to get through however, once I grabbed my glass of wine and made sure I was in a safe space I was ready to go lol. This story was full of twists and turns, it kept me wondering what would happen next. I found it interesting how Kayne wanted to be loved but was too afraid to allow it of himself and how innocent and pure Laura was, but her circumstances and forced proximity to the darker side of life changed who she was. It is the perfect example of how your experiences color who you are or who you will become. The author did an amazing job building this world and telling the individual stories. L.C was so descriptive that I felt I was watching a movie and not reading a book. I am usually a Romantasy girlie but I will read more books from this author. Edge of your seat spice and action, I loved this !!

This book was interesting. It isn't something I could read at once I could put it down and start it again. But it was good book.

Thank you to L.C Moon and NetGalley for giving me an e-copy of this book.

In A Bedtime Story, L.C. Moon invites readers into a somber fairy tale, where the beasts and monsters inhabit its protagonists, whispering over their shoulders. This is not a romance, but a raw and psychologically driven erotic tale, exploring themes of trauma and identity through the twisted love story of two profoundly broken souls.

Laura Spencer was a child of the moon, resilient yet delicate, using fantasies to escape her harsh reality. Kayne Malkin was a child of the underworld, molded into becoming a formidable predator and ruthless member of the Russian Mafia. Their paths, never meant to cross, fatefully intersect in a dangerous dance seeped in underworld intrigue.

In this unrelenting tale delving into the ugly and untamed sides of love and humanity, Beauty meets the Beast, forever changing the course of their lives.

Part of the "Fairy Tales From the Underworld" series, this first installment serves as a lyrical introspection on the cycle of abuse and how monsters are created through the lens of dark erotica, prompting readers to confront their own darkness.

Trigger warnings: dubious consent, mentions of self-harm, suicide, and murder. Please heed this warning: A Bedtime Story is NOT a romance. If you are seeking escapism through a dark romance whose characters are easily redeemed and that adheres to conventional tropes, this book will not meet your expectations. Also, it's worth noting that Part I concludes with a cliffhanger.

I love reading this book. I thoroughly enjoy every second of it. The ending makes me stare at the wall, because I refuse to believe it, he can't be. Please make sure to read trigger warnings first before diving into this book.

A very different rendition of the Disney BEAUTY & THE BEAST. This is not a children's book but an absolutely wonderful adult version. No spoilers here, but LC Moon writes a terrific love story / thriller that I stumbled across by accident. BUT, this is a planned trilogy so I'm excited to see what he does in the next book.

Wow!! I could not put this book down! Check the trigger warnings - this is definitely not a romance! It is a love story, though. Beautiful Laura ends up entangled with the Russian mafia. Kayne wants to own her and make her beg. He’s not a morally grey character…. Boyfriend is way darker than that! This was absolutely an erotica book, with tons of kink scenes. I cried, though… I was so invested in these characters.

This is a dark retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story between Laura and Kayne. Laura meets Kayne on a night out with her colleague. She longs for more in her life and often daydreams of more. When Kayne offers her a ride home from the nightclub, against her better judgment, she accepts. Unbeknownst to her, Kayne and others from the mafia are looking for her brother, and he is dropping her to be questioned/tortured for information about her brother's whereabouts. To escape the threat of torture, she accepts Kayne's offer to get her out of there. But instead of taking her home, she now becomes his captive.

There are definite parallels between the Beauty and the Beast story, but it's darker and has a different spin, as it's a mafia romance. And I often questioned whether these two should be together, and the romantic elements are dark and Stockholm Syndrome-y to me.

This was not my favorite book, and I'm still determining if I'll continue which other books in the series. This book is written with dual POV, but the POVs change mid-chapter, which was initially disorienting. I also could not connect with Kayne and found him to be toxic. I liked the relationship between Olga- the housekeeper- and Laura.

The ending was different from what I expected. This is not truly a Beauty in the Beast retelling. This story is a dark romance, and the female character changes drastically, whereas Kayne, the male nature, is more stagnant. The mafia elements and the fact that Kayne has no redeeming changes make me want to categorize this book as more of a dark mafia romance. Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just reviewed A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast) by L.C. Moon. #NetGalley
www.netgalley.com

When Laura meets a dark, handsome stranger on a night out with her friend she envies his smooth composure and elegance. Trusting his offer of a ride home she has no idea the turn her life is about to take. Part Beauty and the Beast and a little bit Stockholm-y at times we follow whether or not a relationship can bloom out of a difficult beginning when both parties come from such different worlds. The book was at times a touch darker than I would prefer but it definitely delivers on its promise.