Be swept off your feet by this captivating escapist romance from Juliette Hyland: Beauty and the Brooding CEO!

Art conservationist Cora is prepared to do anything to fulfill her father's final wish - even if it means trekking through the snow to billionaire Everett Winthorpe's secluded estate. Cora would certainly not have missed a chance to view Everett's exquisite art collection. However, when she meets the reclusive billionaire, it is not just the extensive works of art that begin to tempt her...

The brooding CEO has been keeping his heart under lock and key for so long. Yet, Cora's presence in his home has awakened something within him. The time has come for Everett to stop hiding in the shadows and take a chance on life and love. But is Cora prepared to come along for the ride with him? Or is the future for the two of them out of the question?

Juliette Hyland's enchanting contemporary romances are always such a treat and I adored curling up with Beauty and the Brooding CEO. Tender, emotional, heartwarming and wonderfully romantic, this gorgeous page-turner delivers on all counts and will leave you with a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.

Beauty and the Brooding CEO is such a sweet, modern twist on Beauty and the Beast. It feels fresh and down-to-earth, mixing the charm of the original story with real-life challenges. I loved how the art aspect tied Everett and Cora’s journeys together. It added something really unique and meaningful. Their relationship grows in such a natural way, built on understanding and vulnerability, which makes it so easy to root for them. This isn’t a magical, fairytale romance; it’s about finding comfort and strength in small, real moments. The way the book handles healing and personal growth felt super authentic too, balancing the sweetness of romance with relatable struggles. It’s a great reminder that love and self-discovery can go hand in hand. If you enjoy fairytales with a realistic vibe, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Beauty and the Beast retelling...

With art. A lot of art. Cora is hired to catalog Everett's art collection.
He's the beast, with scars. She's the beauty with her own baggage. 'They are both packing baggage and an appreciation for art.

Cora, an art restorer, accepts a job cataloging the collection of Everett, a reclusive billionaire scarred by a tragic accident. While the job offers her a fresh start and a chance to uncover a painting her father pursued for years, Everett initially cancels her contract. However, a storm forces her to stay at his mountain retreat.

As they spend time together, both confront emotional scars from their pasts and strained relationships with their fathers. Their shared love for art helps them heal and build a deep connection, culminating in a heartfelt happily-ever-after.

This Beauty and the Beast retelling offers emotional depth, compelling characters, and a unique focus on art, making it an engaging and memorable romance.

Beauty and the Brooding CEO is a retelling as promised, but with a depth to it you don't always see, including for the beauty as much as the beast. They both experienced horrible events in their past that left them scarred, one on the outside and both on the inside, making it difficult for them to trust others. When she arrives at his mountain retreat to sort out his father's art collection, they both have ulterior motives they aren't willing to share.

I loved this fast read as you got to know both Everett and Cora, as well as their reasons for being the way they are, not to mention both of their desires to change. You can't go wrong with any novel by Juliette Hyland, but I especially loved this one as the heroine was strong and determined besides vulnerable. You're going to love this one!

Per the blurb, this has a Beauty & The Beast retelling with a scarred & closed off Hero and a beauty of a heroine. The issue I had here is unlike the fairy tale, the romance takes a back seat and it’s mostly about the Art which is fine if you are into that but for me it lost my attention.

The ending was cute though.

In this BEAUTY AND THE BEAST inspired romance, Cora gets a job restoring the art collection of a reclusive billionaire. The job gives her a chance to start rebuilding her life and follow the lead on the painting her father devoted his life trying to find. After a tragic accident that left him scarred, Everett’s passion for creating graffiti art has dulled and he spends his days making money for the clients of the wealth management firm he inherited from his father. But when Cora arrives to begin work, Everett tells her he’s canceled her contract. Luckily, bad weather means she has to stay the night.

For me, the art elements make this romance stand out. Both Cora and Everett are artists and the discussions about their art as well as the art in Everett’s collection are fascinating. The BEAUTY AND THE BEAST references are enough to be meaningful without overshadowing the story. Both Cora and Everett deal with issues related to their fathers’ expectations, which add to the conflict. The grand gesture nicely sets up the couple’s happily ever after.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Harlequin Enterprises ULC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.