Back of Book: 

A forgotten princess, bent on vengeance. A reluctant prince, thrust into a role he never wanted. When fate brings them together, there is more at stake than either of them could imagine.

Ella’s Vow…

I was raised by a family of blacksmiths since my parents, the King and Queen of Sartoon, were killed in a coup. No one else in the kingdom knows my true identity. I may be the forgotten Princess, but once I get my revenge on the current royal family, everyone will know my name.

What I didn’t count on when I snuck into the palace was meeting Thal—he’s not what I imagined, or expected in a Prince. To avoid being arrested, I agree to his demands. But can I trust him, or is he like his despicable father, the King?

And why does my heart beat out of my chest when he’s near?

Thal’s Dilemma…

I wasn’t supposed to be the heir to the throne—I’m the second son. Now I’m being pressured to find a bride and secure the kingdom. When I catch Ella Briggs sneaking into the palace, we strike a bargain. She’ll be my decoy, so I can avoid having to dance with so many hopeful women at the upcoming ball.

But soon I’m embroiled in her plans, and falling for her. When she’s in my arms, nothing else matters. As we grow closer, the stakes get higher, for Ella has secrets that could ruin us both.

And she is not who she pretends to be.

Ella’s Rise is an Adult Fairy Tale Retelling of the timeless tale, Cinderella, with an unexpected twist. 

Book Number: One

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Retelling

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A unique "Cinderella" retelling featuring a fallen princess who is desperate for revenge against those that killed her parents.

Ella was raised by a family of blacksmiths that treated her as a servant. She was born the princess of Sartoon, but her kingdom was taken from her in a coup led by the neighboring kingdom's ruling family. Desperate for revenge, Ella with stop at nothing to kill the false King Alfredis. Thal is the prince of a stolen kingdom. He doesn't understand his father's reasoning for taking over Sartoon, but it looks as though he is going to be ruling it someday. After the untimely death of Thal's older brother, Thal finds that he needs to be wed and produce an heir to the throne as soon as possible. Ella and Thal keep running into one another and form an unlikely friendship. Can their relationship last when Ella's secret comes to light?

I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, so it's no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to read this one when the author offered free copies to read and review. I'm always a bit skeptical of "Cinderella" retellings because they're often so repetitive, but I thought Crowne did a great job of adding some pizazz to this iconic tale!

One thing that hooked me right away is how independent and fierce Ella is. Her parents may have been murdered and her kingdom taken from her, but she is willing to survive through the worst circumstances if it means that she can avenge her family. I was curious to see just how Ella would go about securing her goals, especially since I knew eventually she has to fall in love with the prince.

Speaking of the prince, Thal was such a sweet male main character. He is fiercely loyal and will stop at nothing to fight for what is right. It is quite clear from the get-go that he would do anything to protect Ella, even defy his terrifying father. I absolutely adore his vibe and enjoyed watching him try to win Ella over until she finally submitted to his advancements.

The enemies to lovers vibes in this one are one-sided, as Thal has no idea who Ella is when they first meet. It doesn't take long for Ella to be completely charmed by this prince and reluctantly put aside her grudge towards his family though. Their romance is an unlikely one, but I always find it so sweet when people fight for their love, especially when one's parents don't approve of the relationship. The romantic tension between these two was also great, because they both knew that the other was forbidden fruit. Seeing their guards drop in real time was great and added to the romantic feel of this book.

This book contains a bit of spice, but it wasn't anything too crazy. Ella is a virgin, so Thal got to show her the ropes in the bedroom. He was always so chivalrous and generous when it comes to Ella, which is something that I absolutely love seeing in a love interest (especially when they enter the bedroom). All the spice was sweet and consensual, so it only strengthened their relationship and added to the story.

Overall, "Ella's Rise" was a refreshing take on the "Cinderella" story. It features a strong heroine bent on revenge and a young prince that does his hardest to sweep her off her feet. Ella and Thal are both likeable characters, and I found it easy to ship them despite how quickly their relationship forms. The romantic tension in this story is great, and the way that classic elements of the "Cinderella" mythos are flipped on their head are quite creative. I'm so excited to check out the next book in this series, which is a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling! 

Back of Book: 

A beloved tale old as time, with an unexpected ending…

Bernard

A witch’s curse turned me into a Beast. I had nothing to live for until Mirabelle Bissett collapsed on my doorstep, throwing my entire household into turmoil. My unwanted guest soon became a friend, and over time, our bond deepened into something we never expected.

Now I find she has a secret that could change our lives forever. Even though she’s the key to my freedom, falling in love could cost both of us more than we ever imagined…

Mirabelle

Cursed by a witch, I was doomed to live my life alone. Who would have thought a horrible Beast would be the answer to my prayers?

His unexpected kindness and a growing passion that surprises us both make him hard to resist. But falling for Bernard Lyon comes with a price neither of us are prepared to pay. When my worst fears come true, I have no choice but to find the witch and get her to break the curse, even if it means leaving behind the Beast I’ve come to love.

Mirabelle’s Beast is an Adult Fairy Tale Retelling of Beauty & the Beast, with an unexpected ending.

Also, as an added Bonus, there is an Additional Epilogue with an alternate ending.

Fairy Tale Realm Series- All stories in this series are set in the enchanting world of the Fairy Tale Realm, where each kingdom has its own type of magic, and the Fairy Tales you remember are retold in an unusual way. Oh, and the romances are epic! 

Book Number: Two

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Retelling

Review: 🌟🌟🌟

An adult retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" with a twist that explores passion and inner beauty in a new light while still embodying the classic tale as old as time. 

Mirabelle Bissett would do anything to save her father, even become cursed. She now has immaculate beauty that draws men to her like bees to honey, but she will turn into a hideous beast if she ever falls in love. In a castle lying in the Forbidden Woods, Lord Bernard Lyon is dealing with his own curse. After refusing to pay off his parents' debt, he has been cursed to live the rest of his days as a hideous beast—unless someone falls in love with his grotesque form. When Mirabelle enters the woods in the hopes of finding the witch that has cursed her, she ends up injured, leaving her stranded with no place to go but Bernard's manor. Mirabelle is shocked to learn that a beast resides inside, but she is humbled that he is allowing her to heal within his walls. As the two begin to spend more time together, they can't help but realize that they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. As Bernard dares to dream that he may become human again, Mirabelle fears that giving Bernard her heart may just doom her to becoming a beast forever...

I love what Leslie Crowne did to the "Cinderella" story in the first book in her "Fairy Tale Realm" series. "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite fairy tales, so I was really looking forward to her twist on it. Thanks so much to the author for a gifted copy to read! 

The first thing I have to say about this one, is that it reads very similarly to the original "Beauty and the Beast" story. There are only two major twists, one being that Belle is also cursed, and two being the ending is different than the classic tale. This book is pretty much just the original story with spice and adult lusting for one another, rather than the more kid friendly versions that are usually painted. 

Despite there not being many major differences, I still found myself enjoying this story immensely. This tale is a beloved favorite for a reason. The way these two care for one another after they get attacked by wolves, the way Belle falls for the Beast despite his exterior, and the happy ending these two have to fight for are all cherished parts of the original story that are all very much present in this retelling. The fact that Belle and Bernard are both bibliophiles is amazing, and it always melts my heart that their shared love of literature brings the beauty and the beast together. 

The romance in this one fell a little flat for me despite all their shared characteristics. Much of their relationship seemed paved in lust, but these two eventually come to care for each other deeply. It does make sense that Bernard's carnal desires would enhance as a beast and he is mostly a gentleman towards Mirabelle despite them, but I fear I just wasn't one hundred percent sold on their vibe. 

One part of their relationship that I really didn't appreciate was Mirabelle's hypocrisy. She was willing to love Bernard in his beastly form, but she couldn't tolerate him loving her as a beast for a single minute. This seemed rather foolish of her, and I think took away from one of the most wonderful elements of this story: it's the beauty on the inside that truly matters. Does this only apply to men, like what? 

I was also super stoked to hear that this book had multiple endings, but they also felt a bit cheap. I was hoping that in one they both remained beasts and in the other they both became human again, but that wasn't the case. The second epilogue felt a bit like a copout to appease people who are a major fan of the original ending, but I feel that just discredits this entire book in a way. 

Overall, "Mirabelle's Beast" definitely withdrew some mixed feelings from me. On the one hand, it is always fun to revisit the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story, but I wish there would have been a few more major differences from the original. I also love the idea of the double epilogue exploring unlikely endings, but I feel they were played a little too safe for me to truly enjoy. Despite this one not receiving a glowing review from me, it was still a fun adult retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that is brimming with romantic tension and spicy scenes galore. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series "Kat's Bloom," as it is a "Puss in Boots" retelling! 

Back of Book: 

A Palace Healer cast out of court after a mysterious death. A broken man determined to defeat the monster from his past. When their fates collide, they must work together to solve the mystery before more lives are lost.

Who would have thought their greatest ally would be a talking cat?

Katriel

When my mother, the King’s Healer, dies suddenly, I am cast out of the palace without explanation. Devastated, and deep in grief, I find a new place to heal people—in the poorest part of town. I dedicate myself to my craft, hoping one day my innate healing magic will bloom, and I can be as great a Healer as my beloved mother.

Along with my best friend Barnaby, a cursed cat who can talk, I settle into my new life. But something about my mother’s death was strange, and I begin to suspect she was murdered. Then, Arlen Rust shows up to evict me from the cottage where I practice healing. I have nowhere else to go, and the people here need me, so I fight back.

I learn the brooding, handsome rogue has his own secrets. He also has particular knowledge of a muddy, soul-sucking creature that has been attacking the citizens. To save lives, we begin to help each other, and our chilly hostility slowly turns to friendship, igniting a fire between us as our attraction grows.

Once my enemy, Arlen has become my protector. After I’m almost kidnapped, we hatch a plan to get me into the palace so I can investigate my mother’s death and find out who wants me gone. It’s a risky venture for both of us, but so is falling in love.

Arlen

I’m the wayward son, the bad seed. My family shunned me after my mother died, and I’ve a been drifter since then.

When I inherit a run-down cottage, my plan is to sell it as soon as possible and go anywhere else. But the woman occupying it is some kind of local healer, and she has the whole community rallying behind her. I agree to a temporary situation, never intending to become more than her landlord.

Now Katriel Symon has me doing things I never thought I’d do—like confessing my deepest secrets, taking part in a ruse, and tolerating that blasted cat of hers. I’m falling for her, when I should have been long gone.

I’ll face anything to keep her safe—palace guards, the wrath of the king, even the monster who shattered my life so many years ago. But the biggest risk of all may be losing my heart.

Fairy Tale Realm Series- All stories in this series are set in the enchanting world of the Fairy Tale Realm, where each kingdom has its own type of magic, and the Fairy Tales you remember are retold in an unusual way. Oh, and the romances are epic! 

Book Number: Three

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Retelling

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

When a trip to see your grandmother ends with a shocking secret that changes your life forever…

Ruby’s Fate

I’ve never been the docile daughter my noble parents wanted—I’m loud, impulsive, and have rejected all suitors they have arranged to court me. As a last resort, they sent me to a school for young ladies to refine my behavior. I quit two weeks later, and have never been happier. I’m free.

When I’m unexpectedly summoned home by my grandmother, the Duchesa, I refuse to go, but the handsome, arrogant ship captain she sends to retrieve me seems immune to my tricks. When he finally escorts me to her island estate, I’m not at all prepared for what I find.

My grandmother imparts some shocking news and tells me I now have a duty to fulfill, and it’s a frightening responsibility I never would have imagined. I’m the next Keeper of the Heart Stone, an artifact which houses an evil being and must be protected at all costs.

She tells me the fate of the entire Realm is on my shoulders now. How will I ever live up to that?

Marcel’s Duty

When I’m asked to escort the granddaughter of an old family friend, what seems to be a quick, easy task turns into a nightmare of an assignment. Ruby Flores is an undisciplined, willful young lady who listens to no one, least of all me. But when I bring her home, a dangerous secret is revealed. I can’t walk away and return to my shipping business until I know she and her grandmother are safe.

Which is a challenge when there’s a murderer on the loose, an elusive wolf stalking the estate, and the King’s pompous nephew insists on courting Ruby. How do you keep someone safe when they won’t stop getting into trouble?

Falling for Ruby was never my plan. But as we grow closer, I learn how deeply her fears run, and how strong she is for overcoming them. Soon I am drawn into a battle with an enemy I had never imagined existed, and saving Ruby may cause the end of us all.

Ruby’s Heart is an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, with some twists and a spicy romance.

The Fairy Tale Realm Series- All stories in this series are set in the enchanting world of the Fairy Tale Realm, where each kingdom has its own type of magic, and the Fairy Tales you remember are retold in an unusual way. Oh, and the romances are epic! 

Book Number: Four

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Retelling

Review: ?