From the start this book is intriguing and courageous, plunging us into a new world and different concepts. The romance is gentle and loving and the humour between the main characters wonderfully written. This is a new set of characters from Ms. Sparks that we can easily follow, empathise and love.

I was blown away by this book. I've read and enjoyed her previous vampire books,, but where they were light and silly fun, this book was amazing. I'd honestly compare it to Sharon Shinn and Kristin Britain, and they are among my favorite fantasy writers. This would be wasted on just romance writers, and i hope the publisher makes it more friendly for other genres. It would even squeak into YA fantasy, I'd bet--there's some sex, but not much, and the girl saves everything motif is really one we need to see more of.

Let's start at the beginning. The first part of this book was boring and was hard for me to get into. I didn't really care about the young women and their mode of speech was off putting. Why then did I give it 4 stars? Well it's because once the visitors arrived and Leo was introduced, the book and story became much more entertaining. Leo was a much stronger character I'd have to say and won me over. Often the book would appear it was going in a cliché direction and then the author would masterfully not make it cliché; instead making the even innovative. The end seemed like it should have been sooner, but I understand the author was trying to set up the next book and the series. Unfortunately after that part felt too rushed. I would rather give this book 3.5 stars but it definitely worth more than 3, hence the 4 star rating. I will be interested to see the next book in this series.

Loved this new series. The characters were great and loved the chemistry they had. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

ARC received for review

4.5 stars

New series, new worlds, new species. Great start to this series. It was a little slow in parts but that's to be expected since we are learning all new stuff. Loved Luciana and Lord Leo. They were amazing together. Plus her "sisters" are going to make great heroines in their own HEAs. I'm hoping Ms. Sparks saves one for Brody.

This story was really good, it mad me laugh so hard at times without being ridiculous. I love that the Heroine was not some damsel in distress and the hero had a good heart.

This book was much better than I expected it to be. It was a delightful read, involving romance, adventure, and magic. I liked the author's writing style and the pace of the book. The book had several plot twists and I enjoyed a few laughs. There was great interaction between the main characters and supporting characters (which I hope will appear in the other novels). I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!
Lord Leofric of Benwick is known as the Beast due to his ability to wield lightning. Due to this ability, he cannot touch anyone without having the possibility of serious repercussions. The king of Eberon is Leo's uncle and has been trying to kill him since he was a child. The king made Leo Protector of the Realm in hopes it would kill him.
Luciana is an orphan on the Isle of Moon, since she is an Embraced, like Leo. She and her 4 "sisters" live on the island. They create a game using stones to pretend to predict what their futures may hold. However, when the duke of Vindalyn arrives on the island with his dead daughter, Tatiana, who looks like her, Luciana realizes she has a family. Her father and mother sent her to the isle because she was a twin and born when the two moons eclipse. Because of the king's commands, she leaves with her father to impersonate her dead sister. Not to mention she can communicate and see dead people. Tatiana is jealous of her sister and at first is cruel to her, but as she gets to know Luciana, Tatiana becomes a great source of assistance.
Leo has heard rumors of Tatiana but is not prepared when he first sees her. When Luciana sees Leo for the first time, she thinks back to the stones and their prediction. She later finds out from her mother's ghost that her grandmother was a seer. They both are attracted to each other. Leo sends his men to protect Luciana and her father from assassins that want them all dead. They both want to get to know one another, but Luciana hides many secrets. Leo will over time learn more about Luciana, but he is afraid of hurting her with his lightning, since it has caused death in the past. However, Luciana is able to touch him and this gives him hope that their marriage may not have to be in name only. Leo looks into Luciana and discovers the truth about her, but he still loves her and wants to be with her. As the king's intentions increase and other evil intentions come into play, Luciana and Leo must do everything they can to protect those they love. Will they be able to stop those who threaten to destroy them, from the outside and within? A must read novel!!

I love Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series so when I saw that she was starting a whole new series, I got super excited. And this book did not disappoint!

I was hooked from the very star. Luciana was raised as an orphan for 19 years and her dad randomly comes to her asking for a favor or and she find out she had alot more family than she thought. Also she can freaking see ghosts. Thats just cool. Then We have Leo.. who is just a big giant lonely sweetheart.. who you know can absorb the power of lightening and kills everyone he touches. No big deal.

I loved the connection the characters had. I loved the story line and I loved the world it was set it. The book was just fantastic overall. The only thing I didn't like was some of the dialogue was a little bit cheesy.

Arc Review - I loved this story. Leo is the man and he compliments Lucinda well. This book was a solid 5 star ⭐️ read for me. I picked this up and could not put it down. Looking forward to more of this series. Will also try some of the authors earlier works. Would recommend for anyone looking for a great fantasy romance.

**I received this free from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.**
I'll try not to fan girl too hard, but this is one of my favorite kinds of retellings... another addition to the old but favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling, but with a huge twist! Kerrelyn Sparks is one of my all-time favorite paranormal romance authors. Sparks's other modern set series on vampires and shapeshifters is absolutely enchanting! If you haven't had the chance to read it- I highly suggest you give it a go. This new piece of magic by Sparks is set in a fantasy world that is more medieval. It's set in a world that has magical beings like dragons, elves, and witches.
The story revolves around a young woman who at infancy was sent to live on an island for her own safety. This world not only has magical creatures not found elsewhere, but has two moons that when aligned (and they align twice every year) endows those born on that day with special gifts. Our main character, Luciana, is living on the island because she was born on the day of Embracing and it's a capital offense that is punishable by death. Growing up in a convent with other embraced ladies Luciana knows little of what awaits her, except that through her fortune telling gifts she learns that her fate is a man with red hair on a black horse.
She soon learns that she was not an orphan like she was told, but a twin deeply beloved by her parents. Twins are another thing people are persecuted for and so Luciana (as the second born twin) was sent away for her own safety to an island that worships the twin moons. Luciana is sheltered on the island until her twin is poisoned and she is needed to fulfill the twin's fate of marrying the Beast (a man embraced and given the gift of wielding lightning). If Luciana doesn't step in as her sister her father will be murdered for having "defied".the tyrant king's orders. Luciana takes her late twin's place despite her father begging her the contrary and steps into an epic adventure of faith, love, and redemption!
The story is a romantic fantasy that will leave you begging for more, but not because its lacking in any areas. Spark's satisfies the little girl in all of us that wants a white knight type hero to sweep in and woo us! Not that Luciana needs saving all that often, for she has her own Embraced gifts that make her keen on solving problems on her own, but it wouldn't be romance if there wasn't a little cliché moment of man saving woman.
Although I love the setting, characters, and overall plot there did seem moments of redundancy. Especially in regards to Luciana's reaction to "a man with red hair on a black horse." Other than that I loved the story! It was wonderful and fresh.
4 stars

This is a new series by a favorite author of mine and it's a great beginning for a new series. It has it all with brilliant character development and a richly detailed fantasy world. This book with leave the reader impatiently wanting the next book.

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY
Fantasy or paranormal or historical romance?
All three! Absolutely magical! While this is a Genre I read every now and then, this book makes me long for more immediately! I cannot say how the writer was able to capture me in the world of fantasy and historical times while making it all seem so vividly real. Every character was written to capture and make you wonder what more is coming. This series has started out with a bang and I just expect it to continue with explosions on every release. The authors way of setting up the plot and characters keeps you wanting more and makes you mind race ahead wondering how it will all unfold. This is a unique experience that I just hope will continue for the rest of the series. I will be looking forward to more releases in this one. So now.... if you enjoy a great plot, characters you will absolutely adore and a plot line that keeps you wanting more, then BUY this book!

I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

Other than the sex scenes the book reads like a YA light fantasy novel. Definitely not what I was expecting from the cover, but still enjoyable.

4.5 stars.

This book is described as a fantasy/paranormal/historical romance, and while that is not my preferred genre, I decided to give it a go and I am so happy I did! This was a great read!

Set on the fictional world of Aerthlon, Luciana is one of the "Embraced", these are people that are born during the alignment of the twin moons and have special powers. The are feared and condemned to death on their world. Luciana was taken to the Isle of Moon shortly after her birth and believes herself to be an orphan. She was raised in a convent along with 4 other girls, who she considers her sisters. Her entire world is upended when her father comes to the island and asks her to assume the identity of her late twin sister Tatiana and marry the "Beast" in her stead.

Leofric aka Leo aka The Beast is also one of the "Embraced", his power is that he can absorb lightning and use it as a weapon. He is nephew to the king and is Lord Protector of their country. Leo cannot touch or by touched by anyone, as his power will kill. His vile uncle has demanded that he marry the heiress of a prosperous duchy. Leo figures this is just another attempt for his uncle to seize prosperous lands and try to kill him. The king knows that Leo cannot touch another, so the duchy will revert back to the crown.

When Leo and Luciana first see each other, they are drawn to each other. But with so many secrets between them and the not so small fact that Leo cannot touch her, how will they ever be able to be together?

This is a fascinating tale of two people destined for each other and the incredible journey they take to achieve their HEA.

The book is well written, flows great, has ghosts, shifters, assassins, laugh out loud moments, steamy love scenes, evil villains and a wonderful HEA.

I will admit that I knocked off 1/2 a star because this was billed as a medieval era historical, but the language and verbiage used was decidedly modern. It didn't really diminish the story for me, but it definitely was not medieval.

I would happily recommend this book and I will definitely read the rest of the series!!

Full review to be published online in early March.

There is some good news and not so good news with HOW TO TAME A BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS. The good is that Sparks has given readers an intriguing new world to read about. The bad is that it really isn’t all that different from her vampire series. I was hoping for something a little new and different, and perhaps a bit more serious in tone. However, I had a lot of fun with this one. The characters were great and I loved the chemistry between them. This is a story which is lighthearted and humorous.

Good start to the new “The Embraced” series. Luciana and Leofric are a lot of fun together; and fans of Kerrelyn Spark's other works are in for a treat.

How to Tame A Beast in Seven Days is a twist on Beauty and The Beast that is even more beautiful than the original and far more magical than the Disney version. I volunteered to read a copy in exchange for my honest opinion and it was an eye opening experience. I am surprised how much I actually fell in love with this against the odds love story. Am not into the supernatural romance genre but Ms. Sparks latched on to something special with Luciana and Loefric. The characters, the author, the romance kept me spellbound to the point that I breezed through the story in one sitting and am looking forward to a second trip in this otherworldly awe filled tale.