"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me."— Stephenie Meyer
Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings #2) by Rachel L. Demeter Genre: Adult Fiction (Fractured Fairy Tale/Fantasy Romance) Date Published: April 10, 2024 Publisher: Self
Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her grandmother on her deathbed.
Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.
United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.
Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?
Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate, slow-burn historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a world at harmony.
*Red Kingdom is a standalone installment in a series of reimagined fairy tales.
Disclaimer: This is not your grandmother's Little Red Riding Hood. Red Kingdom is a dark historical romance set in a war-torn kingdom. As such, it contains graphic content and mature themes, including grief, strong violence, offscreen rape and suicide, and animal/human death. Reader discretion is advised.
Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter is the second book in the Fairy Tale Retellings series. I just had to pause and recoup after reading this one, because so many horrible and wonderful things happened. It kind of left me a bit in awe. This is a dark one. It's brutal with a lot of death. Don't get attached to anyone. And, I hate deaths of favorite characters! I mean, we all do. Right? But, these deaths had purpose at least. It wasn't for shock value. I still don't like it, but they had meaning. That brings me to the characters in general. They were fleshed out very well. You really got to know them and all their layers, and you didn't get it all at once. It was a process throughout the reading experience. I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and this was definitely that. Red Kingdom was well thought out from start to finish, and I can't wait to see what's next for us in this series.
Th ARC of Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
Have you read the first book yet?
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
The cold weather stinks! But, when it comes to my blog, I love this time of year, because I get to remember and pick out all of my favorite bookish things that I've read over the past year!
Let's start the week off with my Top 10 Favorite books of the year!
(I couldn't begin to decide which I liked better than the other. It was hard enough to only pick 10. So, here they are, in no particular order)
Body Parts by Jessica Kapp Genre: Young Adult (Science Fiction) Date Published: August 15, 2017 Publisher: Diversion Publishing
Why did I love this book?
People are scary. Many don't look farther than themselves, so I could see something similar happening in real life. That made for a very interesting reading experience.
How to Hang a Witch (How to Hang a Witch #1) by Adriana Mather Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal) Date Published: July 26, 2016 Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Why did I love this book?
This story shows how, as a society, we really haven't changed much since the Salem Witch Trials. It was very well told, and allows you to think for yourself while still getting the full experience of what's going on. The author's personal history added a little fun too.
Beauty of the Beast (Fairy Tale Retellings #1) by Rachel L. Demeter Genre: Adult Fiction (Fractured Fairy Tale/Fantasy Romance) Date Published: March 15, 2017 Publisher: Self
Why did I love this book?
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. Hands down! This retelling stayed true to the Beauty and the Beast feel, but told it's own darker story. This is the Beauty and the Beast that should have been made into a movie in 2017.
Love Me Never (Lovely Vicious #1) by Sara Wolf Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance) Date Published: April 5, 2016 (first published April 5th 2015) Publisher: Entangled Teen
Why did I love this book?
I absolutely love the sarcasm and bantering! Love it! That alone was enough to entertain me, but it has a darker side too.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner Genre: Young Adult (Fractured Fairy Tale) Date Published: March 14, 2017 Publisher: HarperTeen
Why did I love this book?
Like I said earlier, I love Beauty and the Beast. Clearly, I can't get enough B & B retellings either. Here's another one for you. This one brings something new to the table. It intertwines with Russian fairy tales. I'm not familiar with these stories, so it was a pretty unique spin. I really enjoyed the brief perspectives from the Beast too.
Why? Because I've gotten way too much enjoyment out of this series this year, for it not to be on this list. I'm addicted! I can't pick just one book from the series. This series, as a whole, has everything I love about romance and just enough of it! Sweet with Heat describes it perfectly!
Beauty of the Beast (Fairy Tale Retellings #1) by Rachel L. Demeter Genre: Adult Fiction (Fractured Fairy Tale/Fantasy Romance) Date Published: March 15, 2017 Publisher: Self
Experience the world’s most enchanting and timeless love story—retold with a dark and realistic twist.
A BEAST LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF HIS PAST
Reclusive and severely scarred Prince Adam Delacroix has remained hidden inside a secluded, decrepit castle ever since he witnessed his family’s brutal massacre. Cloaked in shadow, with only the lamentations of past ghosts for company, he has abandoned all hope, allowing the world to believe he died on that tragic eve twenty-five years ago.
A BEAUTY IN PURSUIT OF A BETTER FUTURE
Caught in a fierce snowstorm, beautiful and strong-willed Isabelle Rose seeks shelter at a castle—unaware that its beastly and disfigured master is much more than he appears to be. When he imprisons her gravely ill and blind father, she bravely offers herself in his place.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Stripped of his emotional defenses, Adam’s humanity reawakens as he encounters a kindred soul in Isabelle. Together they will wade through darkness and discover beauty and passion in the most unlikely of places. But when a monster from Isabelle’s former life threatens their new love, Demrov’s forgotten prince must emerge from his shadows and face the world once more…
Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty of the Beast brings a familiar and well-loved fairy tale to life with a rich setting in the kingdom of Demrov and a captivating, Gothic voice.
* * *
Beauty of the Beast is the first standalone installment in a series of classic fairy tales reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Disclaimer: This is an edgy, historical romance retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Due to strong sexual content, profanity, and dark subject matter, including an instance of sexual assault committed by the villain, Beauty of the Beast is not intended for readers under the age of 18
Beauty of the Beast by Rachel L. Demeter is the first book in the Fairy Tale Retellings series. This is a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, if not one of the best. The book kept the ambiance of Beauty and the Beast, but was its own slightly darker version of the story. Belle was a strong and intelligent main character. She could come and go, so I never felt like this was a Stockholm Syndrome love affair which was nice. Adam has so many layers. He has spent years hiding from people because of how he looks, among other reasons. So, as much as he yearned for some human contact, he feared it too. Both of them have some major issues they need to work out in themselves, but that's part of what made them perfect, and their relationship made for some beautiful reading. It has some naughty bits, so it's not for the younger crowd. Adam is a 'beast" that will make your belly flip while you read, and you know how much I love those belly flipper beasts. All the more reason this was near impossible to put down. Beauty of the Beast is the kind of story(only better) that I was hoping for when I first heard they were making a Beauty and the Beast movie. I can't wait for more retellings in this series!
The ARC of Beauty of the Beast by Rachel L. Demeter was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
Arms sprang out from the darkness. They spun her full circle and slammed her body against the king’s portrait. Isabelle gasped, more in shock than from pain, as she stared into Adam’s deformed face. The lantern flickered behind his massive form, casting his cloaked body in silhouette. But she saw enough to know he was far from pleased. Rage and frustration radiated from his body like a palpable force.
“I warned you to stay out of here,” he said, his voice dangerously cold and deep. Those rugged vocals vibrated against her body and seeped into her marrow. “What part of forbidden didn’t you comprehend?” His voice lashed out from the darkness like a hurtled knife, and the word “forbidden” seemed to whisper another meaning altogether. Isabelle tried to answer but failed to find her voice. Indeed, her vocal cords had turned to solid ice, as numb and cold as the blood rushing through her veins. She couldn’t breathe; she felt like she was suffocating.
“My mother gave me that musical box on my fourth birthday,” he said, the sensual lull of his voice causing the fine hairs on her nape to stand erect. “And now your recklessness has destroyed it. Have you nothing to say?”
“I—I’m sorry.” He offered no reply; only the ragged sound of his breathing and the hammering blizzard broke the silence. “Please—I didn’t mean any harm.”
She struggled under the weight of Adam’s colossal body and battled to free herself. He merely gave a low chuckle and pressed her firmly against the portrait. He looked otherworldly at that moment, like an angel of death seeking vengeance. Both beautiful and monstrous, his cool, sapphire eyes overflowed with warring emotions. In spite of his harsh and ruthless exterior, she detected a quaver in his voice and saw that his large, cloaked shoulders trembled. The darkness in his soul cast a shadow that embraced her; as she peered up at him, she knew he was drowning in the turbulent waters of a past time.
“What a disappointment,” he went on, his voice growing deeper still, mocking her words from so many days ago, “You’re like any other woman.”
“I—I’m sorry. Please, Adam. I—” Her gaze shot past his body and over the wreckage of a past life. She thought of her private chamber again—of the stale perfumes and outdated garments.
Her flight or fight instinct seized hold of her. She attempted to scramble free, but he merely grabbed her shoulder and whirled her back against the portrait. Gloves wrapped his hands; his long, silk-clad fingers grasped her shoulder and kept her firmly in place.
He stood intimately close.
Far too close.
As close as Raphael had been that night.
“Going somewhere, ma belle? After you’ve worked so hard to find my East Tower?”
Hands like two steel bands held her wrists in place. Hot breaths, which faintly smelled of wine, seared her cheeks and assaulted her senses. Her breasts flattened against the pressure of his strong chest, and she felt that same chest swell and deflate in perfect sync with her own. One large hand slipped down her elbow and glided across her extended arm. The lush material of his gloves drew a shudder from her heaving chest. His breathing grew more ragged, shallower, and the erratic beat of his heart banged against her own.
Anger and desire warred on his face, twisting his features into a mess of both monster and man. “Find anything of interest, aside from my musical box? Come, come. You went through such great trouble to get here,” he asked, his voice now threaded with both anger and something else.
Yes, Isabelle recognized that something else. It was the same note that had entered Raphael’s voice that night…
She attempted to duck under his arm, but he moved swiftly, capturing her in the crook of his elbow. Reeling her toward him, he emitted a low, haunting chuckle that swelled the eastern tower to its rafters. She was back where she’d started—pinned against the portrait, Adam’s body serving as a flesh-and-blood blockade.
Hunger radiated from him, enfolding her in a current of sizzling power. His silk-clad hand grazed the curve of her breast as it moved down her body in a painfully slow caress. Even more alarming was her reaction to him. Her treacherous body responded with a crush of hot and cold pulsating waves. Then he whispered a taunt in her ear, and his liquid baritone slid down her backbone like honey; it swirled inside her, finding its home in her most intimate area.
He leaned closer still. His face’s uneven skin brushed against her neck, the black waves of his hair tickled her chin... His thick arousal expanded against her, reminding her of what he was capable of—and of her sheer vulnerability.
His lips teased the base of her throat. Cursing her traitorous body, Isabelle gasped at the gentle scraping of his teeth. His tongue and lips tormented her throbbing pulse—just barely, stirring her skin in a mere ghost of a touch.
Also check out my reviews of more fantastic books by Rachel L. Demeter!
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
“You must stay here as my mistress. For as long as I demand. Perhaps forever.” Forever.
The word rang with a note of finality.
“Please, Isabelle! I beg you. Don’t do this!” How could I endure it?
“Do as I say and your father shall safely return home.”
Experience the world’s most enchanting and timeless love story—retold with a dark and realistic twist.
A BEAST LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF HIS PAST
Reclusive and severely scarred Prince Adam Delacroix has remained hidden inside a secluded, decrepit castle ever since he witnessed his family’s brutal massacre. Cloaked in shadow, with only the lamentations of past ghosts for company, he has abandoned all hope, allowing the world to believe he died on that tragic eve twenty-five years ago.
A BEAUTY IN PURSUIT OF A BETTER FUTURE
Caught in a fierce snowstorm, beautiful and strong-willed Isabelle Rose seeks shelter at a castle—unaware that its beastly and disfigured master is much more than he appears to be. When he imprisons her gravely ill and blind father, she bravely offers herself in his place.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Stripped of his emotional defenses, Adam’s humanity reawakens as he encounters a kindred soul in Isabelle. Together they will wade through darkness and discover beauty and passion in the most unlikely of places. But when a monster from Isabelle’s former life threatens their new love, Demrov’s forgotten prince must emerge from his shadows and face the world once more…
Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty of the Beast brings a familiar and well-loved fairy tale to life with a rich setting in the kingdom of Demrov and a captivating, Gothic voice.
* * *
Beauty of the Beast is the first standalone installment in a series of classic fairy tales reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Disclaimer: This is an edgy, historical romance retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Due to strong sexual content, profanity, and dark subject matter, including an instance of sexual assault committed by the villain, Beauty of the Beast is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
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A Kindled Winter by Rachel L. Demeter Genre: Adult (Contemporary Romance) Date Published: November 1, 2015 Publisher:Black Lyon Publishing, LLC
“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”
— Dale Evans
A week before Christmas, Jeseca Reed sets off for Blue River, Oregon—her childhood home and a vault of tender memories. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when she’s left stranded in the mountains’ vast, untamed wilderness. Desperate and alone, she seeks shelter at a cottage and finds herself in the arms of a mysterious stranger.
Dr. David Drake was once a renowned cardiovascular surgeon. But a devastating tragedy has left him scarred both inside and out, unable to use his hands to operate again. For the past five years, his Blue River cottage has been his sole escape—a safe haven where he can shut out the world, bury himself in his grief, and reunite with his son’s memory.
Together they are summer and winter. Fire and ice. And yet a poignant connection forms between them. Jeseca awakens David and thaws his heart with a romance hot enough to melt snow. But before David and Jeseca can fully embrace each other, they must wade through darkness and confront the ghosts of their pasts …
Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, A Kindled Winter brings the spirit of the holidays to life with a passionate story of second chances and healing love.
A Kindled Winter by Rachel M. Demeter is the perfect book to grab on a cold winter night. Jeseca and David were like two halves of a whole to me. They both have things they really need to work through, but they complete each other as well. They just fit. For such a short book, it really packs a lot of story in there with it's emotions all over the place and the steamy romance. My goodness. Not that I'm surprised. I'm already a big fan of this author.
The ARC of A Kindled Winter by Rachel L. Demeter was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
David’s enchanting voice swelled the darkness, surrounding Jeseca, gripping onto her senses with a thousand beckoning fingers. They held her captive—and she readily surrendered her freedom.
“We’re like day and night. Summer and winter. Fire and ice. And yet something about you whispers my name and echoes inside me …” His mouth found her pulse point. Damp, hot lips nibbled on her skin and sent her wits reeling. “You should have never come in here. It was a mistake.”
“Then tell me to leave and I’ll go,” she replied through a breathy whisper. Her voice sounded thick with desire, hoarse … she hardly recognized it as her own. “And I don’t believe we’re complete opposites,” she said, her words husky and guttural. “I think the real you is hiding.”
Impenetrable silence took hold. Only the howling wind and David’s heavy breathing breached the quiet.
“Should I leave?”
Please, don’t send me away. Don’t shut me out.
More silence. “No. I need you … I need you to stay with me.” The words emerged from the darkness and wrapped around Jeseca’s heart with the force of a lasso.
Then he plunged a hand beneath the bathrobe, which had fallen halfway open, and a jarring whoosh of air slammed against her skin. His tongue swirled along her collarbone, branding her flesh with slick, wet shapes. Her heart hammered, and she clutched at the bedsheet as his mouth ventured lower … lower … skirting across the V-line of her plush pajama top. Then his fingers were working the buttons, quickly undoing them and sweeping the soft material aside. Cold air tightened her naked breasts, causing gooseflesh to prickle her skin.
“Stop me if I’m going too fast,” he breathed against her.
Yes, she should stop him. This was wrong. Totally wrong. Instead, all rational thought melted away and she found herself arching against his mouth and tongue. She wanted more—not less. And she wanted him to go faster—not slower …
Also check out my reviews of more fantastic books by Rachel L. Demeter!
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
