Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
My all-time favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast, so I knew I would either love this story or hate it. The good news is I loved it!
As the story opens, Robert “Belle” Belleterre, who holds a doctorate degree in chemistry, is perfecting the packaging for his new skin care formula. He’s finally perfected a paraben-free formula for his father’s cosmetics company, but he needs to make sure the packaging keeps the product stable. Happy in his own little world of chemical formulas and lab work, and enjoying the nature and beauty of the Portand area, Belle suddenly finds himself being sent to work for his company’s competitor in dirty, crowded, bustling New York City.
Why? Because his father drinks too much, and his brothers care more for their bank accounts and flashy cars than they do for him. His father’s gambling addiction, fueled by alcohol, caused him to lose most of his company stock in a card game. The winner, Magnus Strong, CEO of Beauty, Inc. won it. But in exchange for letting his father keep the company, Magnus wants Belle, and he’s willing to give him the freedom to work on any projects that interest him at Beauty, Inc.
Magnus is not a typical romance character. In fact, in appearance, he’s downright homely, but his heart is as big as the great outdoors, and he’s smart and knows what he wants. He’s wanted Belle from the moment he first saw him, but knowing how ugly he is, he knew beautiful, sweet Belle would be repulsed, so he’s content to watch him from a distance.
What Magnus doesn’t know is that Belle was attracted to Magnus from the moment he saw him. Belle doesn’t see his flaws, and the more he gets to know just how caring and concerned Magnus is—not only in words, but in deeds—the more he wants to get close to the man. However, being a shy, awkward, socially inept chemist has its drawbacks, and Belle doesn’t know how to let Magnus know how he feels.
The cast of supporting characters in this story includes Mr. Pennymaker, the sprightly elf-like matchmaker we’ve met in past stories in this series; as well as Leroy, Belle’s gregarious driver; Judy, his devoted BFF; and both a household and a company full of characters that provide support to Belle, and ultimately to both Belle and Magnus, as they finally get past their fears and begin a romantic relationship. Of course, Belle’s dysfunctional family interferes once again as they try to bind Belle to their own company by lies and deceit during a time when Magnus is most vulnerable.
All in all, this story is definitely worthy of comparison to the original fairy tale. To borrow a term from a program I watched as a child, these stories created by the very sweet Tara Lain are “fractured fairy tales.” They show a nice twist on the old tales, but with modern MM romance characters—characters who are amazingly interesting and quite unforgettable. My favorite so far in the Pennymaker series, I highly recommend this one.
Cover art by Reese Dante.
Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon
Book Details:
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
Thank you so much for reading my book and for running Barb’s wonderful review! : )
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