Book Review: To Love A Beast by Karen Witemeyer

Karen has done it again! I think this just might be my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling. It wasn't long and overly complicated, but it was filled to the brim with so much! It was the perfect length for this story. And it is set in TEXAS!

I adored Callista and her ability to SEE Everett past the "mask" he wanted her to see. She was determined to stand her ground, refusing to be sent home just because she was a woman. She didn't want to cause Everett trouble by being there, but she needed to do her job to provide for her and her father. She wanted to do her job because she found joy in doing it. She was not aware of what happened to Everett to cause his scares but she could somehow see there was more to it than him just not wanting her around. She felt drawn to find a way to ease the mental pain she could see in his eye. (He wore a patch over one eye.)

Everett is not the beast he lets the world see him as. He is a deeply wounded man who has is still dealing with pain, both physical and mental even after five years. He is fortunate to have three people working for him that care about him. They aren't just there to do a job. When Callista faces him and refuses to leave, something changes in him. He was always a good man. Not cruel, just angry, hurt and in pain much of the time. He had terrible headaches that made things challenging to deal with. It made him very gruff.

One of my favorite parts about the book is when he sees that SHE SEES HIM. Not his scares but past those scares. There are a few places in the book that this happens. About halfway through the book there is such a wonderful, emotional scene that I was sitting here crying. It was beautifully written.

I enjoyed finding all the references to the beloved movie. So many wonderful little things that brought a smile to my face. The villain is named Batton, pretty close sounding to Gaston. He is just as self-absorbed, conceited and arrogant. The cook is named Mrs. Potter. She is a dear. The two men that work for him, Lightfoot and Timens are very much like our favorite two in the movie. Timens is very much into everything done correctly and punctually. Lightfoot gives Timens a hard time about it.

My favorite quote is "It's not the cover that makes a person love a book. A pretty cover might be admired and put on display, but it doesn't stir the heart. Only the story or knowledge captured within the pages can make one fall in love and return to a book again and again."

Check out the authors website for more information about her books: ​KarenWitemeyer.com