Bella and the Beast: A Cinderella Sisterhood Novel: 4

This is my first time reading Olivia Drake and I must say its a very nice find. Its a good old regency romance with plenty of mystery thrown in.I must admit, the cover does not really do the plot much justice. And its these slightly cringey bodice-ripper covers that put women off reading romances- or admit to reading them. Do we need to be blatantly alerted that there’s sex in it? And who’s going to read the paperback on the tube? Although this feeling of embarrassment taps into a deeper problem related to female sexuality and literature, which is a whole other issue.Anyway, this book is part of a series (Cinderella Sisterhood), but you do not need to have read the previous books to enjoy it. The plot description pretty much sells it all-a missing treasure map, ancient Egyptian mysteries and an undeniably handsome duke prowling around- what more do you really need for a light read that helps you escape the drudgery of everyday life? How about if I say Bella is a lovely character. She lands in England, completely uncharted territory, having been used to living in Persia, and does not have a clue about social decorum. But she is brave, smart and knows how to survive. She is pretty much left with nothing and needs to support her younger siblings.She enters the cold and dark Aylwin estate with her head held high and confronts the Duke to give her a job and would not take no for an answer. The fact that the place may hold the key to her father’s secrets was too tantalizing. Miles had been used to being alone with craters of artifacts, scrolls and sketchers. Bella is instantly a curious disturbance to his usual routine. For one thins she has a connection to his own father, and may be able to unlock mysteries that began when they were children. She is also the only other person his age that shares his passion with ancient history.There’s no joke about it, he really is a beast. His aggressive manner and short temper instantly repulses Bella. And he does veer towards the rape-ish, but I do think the author quickly pulls it back in time before it gets disturbing. The chemistry between them is dynamite, totally swoon worthy. Bella gradually unveils that behind the monster is a sensitive man wrestling with the ghosts of his past. To complicate matters a murderer is on the loose, possibly someone close to them! So plenty to entertain yourself…celiamoontown.com @celiamoontown

Bella and the Beast is the fourth book in the 'Cinderella Sisterhood' series by Olivia Drake. I haven't read any of the other books, so can safely say this book can be read as a stand alone book with no problem.The story is about Bella Jones, and Miles Grayson, the Duke of Aylwin. Bella has been living with her father and two young siblings abroad. On his death bed his father tells Bella that she must return to England, to look for Aylwin. Apparently he has the other half to a treasure map which she possesses. The treasure being that of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. They barely have enough money to travel back to England, and to keep residence in a small cottage that belonged to her father. But it would serve as a base when she went in search of Aylwin. If she could find his half of the treasure map, they could split whatever the treasure was and she would have enough money to bring up her siblings without financial worry. Of course Bella doesn't want to let on to Miles what she is up to. As far as he is concerned she wants to work with him purely because of her interest in Egypt and because she would thoroughly fascinated cataloguing his late father's finds.Miles Grayson is known as the beast because he's been a hardened man since his father was murdered. He's locked himself in his house, brought as many of his father's finds from abroad. His only focus being on cataloguing them, studying them, and perhaps lending some out to museums. He has no time for relationships, not even knowing his horrid cousin will be heir to the dukedom and the wealth that entails if he doesn't marry and produce an heir. He is too bitter though, because not only did he lose his father to murder, another man whom he looked up to as a father ran away the same day he found his father dead. He can't help but feel betrayed.So of course when Bella turns up at his house, saying that she wants /needs a job with him, to be a curator of sorts with him, helping him catalogue all the antiquities, he is none too happy. Bella tells him who she is. Which happens to be the daughter of the man who ran away and left him to fend for himself in Egypt after his father died. He doesn't remember Bella, after all they were only children when he knew her. There was one way to be certain of her identity though. After a fascinating way of proving Bella is who she says she is, Miles decides to take her on. He does need help with the work, but more to the point he needs to know why the man he thought of as a dear man, a friend, a father figure, ran away. He hopes spending time with Bella will help answer his questions, and maybe help him dissolve the anger that has burned through him over the years.The more time Bella and Miles spend together, the more attracted they are to each other. Neither is happy about it, and each of them are keeping secrets from each other, which is never a good thing. Miles can be a true arse, there is no other word for it, particularly in one part of the story where he has been to a brothel, had sex with a prostitute and then when he got home he tried to get intimate with Bella!! Ugh, hello, NO. I think that was a perfect way for the author to show what a beast Miles was, making sure that the readers were horrified at his antics.I really enjoyed this book because not only was there the possible romance, and of course the passion between our couple, there was also the mystery of the treasure map, and the treasure. Also we had the story of Miles' cousin and the man's wife, both horrid characters who want nothing more than to make Bella leave. They don't want any romantic relationship to form, and definitely don't want Miles and Bella to marry and have a child because that would ruin their chances of becoming the next Duke and Duchess of Aylwin. How far will they go to get rid of Bella, and what dangers lurk for her and Miles either from them, or interested parties who also know of a certain treasure map?I love how the author truly gets you to despise Miles, especially in the beginning of the book, she truly makes him a beast. I also love how Bella finds out about the possible job working for him in the first place. The crimson slippers, the story behind them, and the woman who gives them to her gives a lovely added extra to the story too. If you don't mind feeling at times that you want to kill the hero of the story, or shake the heroine occasionally, then you will definitely enjoy this book.For me, the only negative, which is why I have only given a 4 star rating, is that at times the book did seem a bit slow. I never lost interest in the plot, but at the same time, a 5 star rated book for me is one that I can't put down until I reach the very end, or one where my kindle ends up dropping on my nose because I have fought sleep in order to get to the end, and lost! This book didn't have that need to finish ASAP pull, but was still well worth the read.I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bella’s father was an Egyptologist and on his deathbed he tells his daughter, Bella, that he was promised some ‘treasure’ by the Duke of Aylwin and that she needs to find the other half of a treasure map.She wants to help her family so decides that she needs to investigate. She takes a curators job helping the late duke’s son, Miles, catalogue some Egyptian artefacts. He doesn’t present as a very welcoming character. He is quite unpleasant- but Bella gets under his skin. They don’t like each other at all in the beginning- but there is a spark of interest that develops over the course of the book. Miles is the 'Beast' of the story and he doesn't have many redeeming qualities.I liked the Egyptian aspect to this book as it’s an era that interests me. There is a mystery that must be solved to help them both move on.With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I used to read most of Barbara Dawson Smith’s work, and lost track of her. This is the first of her Olivia Drakes that I’ve read, and I’d forgotten what a good story she weaves. A few of the reviews I’ve read didn’t like that the hero went to his usual brothel after realizing an unwanted attraction to the heroine. As it turned out, the scene served a purpose to bring him back to the heroine, and it was realistic for the time. For a man of this time period obsessed with his work, with no desire to keep a mistress, how else was he to find sexual relief? So it was okay for me. When he finally admitted the attraction was more than sexual, he fell hard and heavy for Bella (almost a bit over the top for my taste). But this was a great story, with lots of historical detail, and it kept me happily turning pages to the satisfying ending.

The story is intriguing and the characters though stiff at first improve upon further reading. The addition of Egyptology was an excellent plot point.

Magic slippers and a magic book. The book had all the necessary ingredients for a wonderful read. This is the first time I have spent time with this author's imagination. It will not be the last.

I like the way she did this, Bella and the Beast a nice twist she wasn't beautiful but she was Bella and he really wasn't a beast very good book enjoy that sexy.

This book was terrific, enjoyed the twist and turns the drama, the love triangle were perfect.

GREAT

Wonderful read! Historical Romance at its best!

Thank You I Was Very Satisfied

This author likes to have us read about the H's with other women h having sex. I personally don't want to read that once they meet the h and are interested I don't want them going to a brothel and screaming the h's name. She uses this situation in other book's too. Just can't do it. Totally ruined the book. Plus it was slow in the first place. And it's just gross. Be warned.

I think this may be my new favorite in the Cinderella Sisterhood novels. It was well written and kept me entertained. There were actually several unexpected plot twists and it was just a genuinely good read. The only true flaw was sometimes I was left wondering how the characters could be at each other's throats one moment and the next moment they were kissing. It was a bit bizarre and I sometimes had to wonder about the motives of the characters as they seemed a bit out of place. But for the most part I enjoyed this book.

The book would have been strong enough to stand on its own, so it makes me wonder if the rest of the series would bear the same grain of a supposed least attractive of the would win the hero. I thought Bella was accomplished and witty and brave, thus i was trying o figure out why this one would be within a series known as "Cinderella Sisterhood".Oh well, no matter. I like Miles as he is strong against the tide and fight to keep what he feels is right and his.