When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Fairy Tales Book 2)

The hero in When Beauty Tamed the Beast is based off of the character Gregory House, from the TV show House M.D. This made me unsure about picking up the book. While I love House, I was afraid this would read like really awful fanfiction. Luckily, that wasn't the case. When Beauty Tamed the Beast is very light and humorous with engaging characters. There are also a few homages to the TV show casually thrown in (such as the mention of a patient with the last name Cuddy) but they weren't annoying.

The thing that really made this book enjoyable was the amount of time the two main characters spend together. It was a nice change of pace from other historical romances where the main characters are forced into a marriage and then spend half the book trying to avoid one another. Instead, Linnet and Piers get to know each other over the course of the story. So, you slowly start to see why they would be drawn together.

Also, the way Piers didn't have a sense of personal space was pretty amusing. The morning scenes when he'd come to wake Linnet up to go swimming where probably my favorite parts.

I don't think I'll read any more of the books from this series, but I would recommend fans of Historical Romance give this one a try.

This is a nice stand alone by Ms. James, who is celebrated for her various series featuring related family and friends among the ton. When Beauty Tamed the Beast leaves the rest of society behind and takes a detour to a secluded area far from London where a physician (the "beast") is working to provide medical care superior to the leaches and bloodletting so common at the time. The "beauty" does indeed come across as fairly beautiful, as does the beast's mother, who has to be at least my age! But the beast isn't all that terrible - just afraid to love, and the beauty cares far more for those around her than she does for herself. Ms. James writes wonderful happily ever afters - I knew that with absolute certainty going into the book - yet she still managed to make me nervous as the story reached its crisis point and I felt those involuntary butterflies that warned that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't get to her in time. Silly me, but brava to Ms. James! A delightful read all around.

4 stars.

First Eloisa James novel I've read and I enjoyed it, even though I had some minor issues.

Let's start with the things I liked or loved. Piers was a excellent character, I liked his gruffness and his dry/sarcastic humor, he was what made this book a four star read. I greatly enjoyed his interactions with all of the other characters and everytime he was on the page I was happy. I loved that he noticed right away Linnet wasn't pregnant when he first met her and it wasn't part of the storyline really at all except to get Linnet to Piers castle.

I liked Linnet, I thought she was sweet with some sassy in her and that's always fun. She didn't take crap from Piers, if he was gruff or rude she would be right there intervening. I liked that for this whole book it's made clear that she's beautiful and (before the scandal) sought after by many men and then when she catches Scarlet Fever and she is red all over and her skin is scaly and has blisters she is understandably traumatized and doesn't want people seeing her. Now thankfully there was much more to Linnet than her beauty, she clearly cared about people and it showed when she talked and spent time with some of the patients at Piers home.

The secondary romance between Piers mother and father was wonderful. It didn't overpower the novel at all but there were enough scenes and moments with them that it was satisfying.

Now onto what I liked less, there was nothing in this book that I'd say I hated, but there were a couple things that reduced my enjoyment of the book. One thing, honestly the major thing, is EJ's writing style, for some reason the way she writes bugs me and it can be very difficult for me to understand or comprehend what she's trying to discribe to me. There were quite a few times that I had to go back and reread a paragraph or a sentence so I could visualize what she wanted to convey.

Another issue I had was with Linnet's father. I couldn't stand him and although I didn't like him I wished that there had been at least one more scene between him and Linnet (with Piers there as well), I would have liked to have a little bit of closure there.

The last issue I had was that this wasn't as much of a Beauty and the Beast tale as I would have liked. There were some aspects here and there but it didn't capture the essence of what I liked about BatB.

Overall this was a good book and I will be reading more Eloisa James in the future.

Eloisa James has done it again in this retelling of the classic fairy tail of Beauty and the Beast. Piers is the Earl of Marchant, an angry, bitter man who has a leg injury and therefore uses a cane. He's also a doctor. He has three "under" doctors, and one friend, in this case his cousin, who also helps him. If you've ever watched a certain show on FOX, this is sounding familiar to you. Eloisa James totally based the character of Piers on Dr. Gregory House. I love it!

Linnet is the classic beauty, men want her, women hate her or want to be her, because she's so beautiful and perfect. But when she gets thrown over by the Prince, and she wears a gown to a ball that makes her look like she's expecting, her reputation is ruined, and no man will have her... until her Aunt shows up with an idea.

Since the Earl of Marchant is reputed to be incapable of fathering children, and lo and behold, here's a lady who is supposedly carrying a Prince's child, they make a match, using Piers' father, who is itching for an heir. But will Linnet and Piers be able to stand each other once they meet? They surely don't think so.

This was great. I love the show House, and when I started noticing the similarities between Piers and the fictional doctor, I kind of fell in love with him a little. I was not as big of a fan of Linnet at first, since she seemed somewhat vain, and silly. But as the book went on, I began to see that she wasn't as she originally seemed.

Just like in A Kiss at Midnight, this differs from the original fairy tail... a lot, but that fact doesn't detract from the story, it helps it, I think. Had it been a strait retelling, I think it would've been boring.

Overall, the humor in this book is charming, the sex is hot, and it's just a great book!

If you're a fan of Eloisa James, this is a must read. If you've never read her before, pick this up! It's a great historical romance with that touch of whimsy that just makes it a gem.

Full review available on my blog:
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The third time must be the charm. This is the third book I have read by this author and it was AMAZING. The two previous ones (The Duke is Mine and The Ugly Duchess) both had potential but fell short from being good books.

This book did not fall short.

I loved Piers. He closely resembles House from the popular television series (minus the drug addiction). It was easy for me to fall for him and remain captivated to the last page.

Linnett is both beautiful and kind. She doesn't like male attention and finds that it makes her uncomfortable which endears me to her.

I loved the secondary characters in this novel as well. There is a little boy with a broken leg that I just wanted to take into a motherly embrace. I also really liked Pier's cousin who he practices medicine with and their students the "ducklings".

Overall, I have this to say. This book was amazing. If you love romances and fairy tales this is a wonderful combination which is totally worth the read. I couldn't put it down. And, I would gladly read it again.

Review written by Jane B Night author of Educating Autumn

An unfortunate misunderstanding leads to Linnet being cast out of London, supposedly a fallen woman. No one will have her in her present state, so Linnet reluctantly agrees to wed Piers Yelverton, the Earl of Marchant.

Marchant is reputed to be a beastly man, one with a quick temper and very little social graces. In fact, he is a brilliant physician on the cutting edge of modern medical techniques. Yet, Marchant is also a wounded man with a painful limp, a man who loves to frolick in the sea and one who suffers mongrels in all shapes and sizes.

Linnet's beauty strikes Piers at his very soul. Incredibly, Piers begins to feel yearnings he supposedly couldn't possess. As his desire mounts, Linnet also finds herself being utterly swept away by the gruff earl, a happy circumstance which she could never have envisioned.

Unfortunately, the couple's happiness is cut short by an epidemic of scarlet fever. The raging disease cuts into the makeshift hospital in the earl's castle and soon attacks Linnet, as well. Piers rushes to save her, battling the disease plus demons of his own as he wrestles the woman back to health. He cannot help but wonder that if she is marred, will their perfect love also be similarly scarred? If only there could be happiness in the face of such tragedy. Excellent historical account and nice mixture of humor, wit and wills.

Miss Linnet Thrynne is a renowned beauty who has the men of London practically falling at her feet. Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, is a beast who never leaves his castle-turned-hospital in Wales. To all outward appearances, the two could have nothing in common. But when a scandal turns Linnet's world upside down, her father and the earl's father arrange the couple's betrothal, which is how Linnet finds herself in Wales, with an earl who is a doctor...and wants nothing to do with her.

Or so he claims.

Piers cannot help but be captivated by the intelligent, sharp-tongued beauty who isn't at all intimidated by his temper. She's also not cowed by the realities of his life as a doctor, even though the sick and dying that are housed in his castle can't be more different from the lords and ladies of London's ton Linnet must be used to. However, Piers refuses to be swayed by all the reasons he can't stay away from Linnet; he will not marry - ever.

Can this beauty break down her beast's walls in order to capture his heart?

A beloved fairy tale is re-imagined at the hands of a master novelist in When Beauty Tamed the Beast. Eloisa James's Regency fairy tale is nothing like any retelling of Beauty and the Beast I've ever read. Piers is beastly in behavior, to be sure, but don't expect to find him sprouting fur. Piers's "beastliness" is all attitude; his only handicap is a permanently damaged leg. If Piers reminds me of any fictional character, it's the titular doctor of House, M.D., whom Ms. James herself notes was her inspiration for the character. Piers might actually be more crabby in the beginning of When Beauty Tamed the Beast than the curmudgeonly Gregory House, but I loved watching his character develop over the course of the book. What fun is having a beast for a hero, I ask, if there is no character growth? As for Linnet, she too is like no Beauty/Belle I have ever seen (aside from her looks and the Disney version's love of reading). In fact, Linnet has a rather biting tongue when it comes to Piers, though he definitely provokes her. The pair fascinate, infuriate, and tempt one another, the result of which was I could not put When Beauty Tamed the Beast down once I had started the book.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast is part of Eloisa's Fairy Tales series, but each book stands on its own and - according to Ms. James's website - there won't be any characters crossing over from one book to another. The true magic of Eloisa's Fairy Tales is in being whisked away to a Regency romance-meets-fairy tale world. When Beauty Tamed the Beast is sure to enchant readers from "Once upon a time" until Linnet and Piers reach their happily ever after.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

WHEN BEAUTY TAMED THE BEAST by Eloisa James.

This reminds me of Georgette Heyer books. The dialogue was wonderful. There was a lot of it. I was pleased listening to the conversations throughout the book. It reminded me of what many books lack. I was pleased that I was surprised at times. And, this has relationship development. We get to know them through their interactions over time.

Piers was sardonic, sarcastic, and rude to everyone. He had a bad temper. The narrator Susan Duerden did a wonderful interpretation of Piers which might make the audiobook better than the book. I liked hearing him through her.

The beginning was funny with Linnet's father and aunt assuming she was pregnant, even though Linnet kept insisting she was not. This is a good example of inaccurate assumptions (IA) being funny and well done. Normally I don't like IA causing a fight or separation between two characters - with each of them believing inaccurate things about the other. But this was different because Linnet was honest and clear, they just wouldn't listen.

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 9 hrs and 20 mins. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild, as I recall. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: early 1800s England and Wales. Copyright: 2011. Genre: regency romance.

*Spoiler Alert*
This book was surprisingly a good read! I bought it on impulse and was surprised at the story it held. I read it over two days and was very happy with it. Things begins with Linnet being publicly snubbed by the prince at a ball. As if that wasn't humiliating enough, the dress she chose to wear that evening made her look pregnant--oh, I mean, "in a delicate condition" and whispers of it spread like wildfire. Thus, Linnet's reputation is ruined, and her father and aunt immediately start scheming to find her a husband.

Enter the Beast, Piers. Immediately, I thought of Dr. House, as Piers is troubled with a bad leg and has a nasty temper resulting from the constant pain. He lives in a castle by the sea, runs a hospital, and is very sharp. He even has a line of House's "everyone lies" he believes. As a reader though, I didn't think he was so beastly. He wasn't even scary. The banter between him and Linnet was enjoyable but after 200 pages, you're going to wish they'd get on with it! But never fear, things begin to heat up, slowly but surely when Piers and Linnet swim together in the mornings.

Toward the end of the book a lot of characters are rushed in, many of them wrapped up in their own lives and hard to understand--until their back-story is painfully explained. Twists in the plot were very unexpected, in particular when he had to cut off her hair! Overall, some of the chapters were needless, Linnet's complete ignorance (and mental expectations) to the male body was close to being hilarious. As for the writing, I had to go back a few times to make sure who was saying what. But it was a nice read. If anyone who enjoys romance and House I recommend giving this a try. WBTtB is not a keeper, not by far, but still good reading especially if you like some humor with your romance!

Even weeks after reading When Beauty Tamed the Beast, I still get a dopey grin on my face just thinking about it. Its that good. I can even remember the H/H names without looking (I can't even remember the names from the boring book I read last night!). Seriously, historical romance readers need to read this book. I won't spoil it for anybody but the last 1/4 of the book is worth the price of admission. I would even dare to say that it rivals the ending of Almost Heaven. No, I am not crazy.

James does a fantastic job putting a new spin on an old tale. The hero, heir to a dukedom, in this book has a seriously bad attitude, sort of F the world, I am going to say and do whatever I want to; screw my father and his match making ways. So the only bride that the old duke finds for his son, who meets his outlandish criteria, is a ruined beauty. Oddly soon after Piers meets Linnet they quickly decide that they don't suit. Her beauty doesn't make him melt and his caustic personality rubs her the wrong way. But as one thing leads to another Linnet never gets around to leaving and for some reason Piers tolerates her. That's when all the fun starts; when both realize that they don't have to censor themselves around each other anymore (cause you can't cause more of a scandal than there already is). This is both shocking and titillating to my historical romance sensibilities. What develops, though, is a truly wonderful love story.

Did I mention that the ending is fantastic?!?!? Just you read and see. Highly recommended! Keeper material IMHO.

Some of my other beauty and the beast tale favs-
Tapestry
Ravished
Beauty and the Beast
Once A Rake (Zebra Historical Romance)
The Heart's Desire (Heart's Desire, Book 1)
Texas Destiny
Gallant Waif (Harlequin Historical)The Raven Prince

More like 3-1/2 stars! This is my first book by Eloisa James and I do like her writing style. I found the book to be a fairly engaging read, too.

What I liked most:

*The dialogue between H&H was good (witty, intelligent, humorous, even heartbreaking)and the best parts of the book were when they were engaged in dialogue that eventually lead to love and understanding.
*I liked the fact that it had themes, from which a reader could learn. The books speaks of forgiveness and how to do otherwise only hurts the person withholding the forgiving. And it teaches us that beauty is only skin deep -- and that love should be based on character, not external and fleeting things.

What I would have liked to see:

*Since this was historical regency romance, I wish the author had included more about Wales and its culture. And, James seems to make the point that Linnet has no regard for Regency mores because of traits she innately inherited from her mother. Still I would have liked to have seen that developed a little more in the context of the historical setting. Linnet went from sexual (and worldly)innocence and ignorance to "experienced" a bit to quickly in my estimation.
*And some of the language had a bit too modern feel to it -- "What happens in Wales, stays in Wales." (hmmm?)
*There is always a bit of conflict or drama that will cause the H&H to see that they do love each other. I did not particularly like the way Piers and Linnet "found" each other again. More precisely, the setting (not the circumstances, itself)seemed a bit over the top. But this is my personal taste.

Yet, it had a satisfying ending and epilogue, which I adored.

If you like the beauty and beast theme, with a little twist, you'll probably like this one. I do plan to read more of Eloisa James' work, since her work gets good reviews.

I won't bore you with another synopsis, others have done this justice.

As I was reading I was thinking that Piers reminded me of Dr. House on the Fox drama series and sure enough in the back of the book Eloisa James says that Piers was based on the House character. Well that gives you an idea of how irascible the hero of this novel can be. It is difficult to see how our heroine can love him but of course beneath the gruffness he has redeeming qualities.

Now the heroine, Linnet, has been compromised by the ton's rumor mill and a betrothal with Piers is engineered by her father and Pier's father. Of course betrothal is railed against by both.

Eloisa James can write humor and pathos. She is very skilled in this genre. Her characters are well developed and there is never a doubt that their actions won't match their personalities. I sometimes thought that Pier's father, the Duke, would have made a better match for our beautiful Linnet since Pier's was such a pill.
James' sense of humor came through with the naming of some characters. Three physicians working with Pier's were named Penders, Kibbles and Bitts.

I do become mesmerized by James' books and the time passed quickly as I was turning pages. There were spots of humor along the way to bring a smile and also some troubles to bring me close to tears. Any author that can churn up emotions like that is a gem.

Plot: Linnet wears a ballgown so unfortunately constructed that it accidentally makes her look pregnant, and then gets caught kissing a prince in the arbor. Scandal! She must marry and quickly, before no one will take her! So...she is transported to the hinterlands to marry Piers, a famed doctor notorious for both his brilliance and his incredible nastiness. Sparks fly, misconceptions abound...will there be a happy ever after for this Beauty and her Beast?

The good: Honestly, everything. Linnet is amazing: beautiful, smart, witty, and extremely strong willed. But for some reason, our heroine's perfection doesn't make the reader want to smack her. Instead, the author somehow makes her too sympathetic for us to hate (trust me, I'm not quite sure how ;). She is a perfect match for her hero, who is smart, brutally honest, and full of all kinds of pain. Their dialogue is funny to a fault. I found myself laughing constantly. I adored how they bantered, how each gave as good as they got, and how they both enjoyed it but tried to hide it from the other.

The characters were extremely well thought out, and their flaws and fears came from real histories that could have happened in the real world. The interpolation of House into Piers' character was fantastic, something I've never seen in a romance novel before and something I really enjoyed.

The bad: I have to stretch on this one, but it's true that the history doesn't stand up to scratch, especially when it comes to period and medicine at the time. But hey, if you're a realist, what are you doing reading romance novels?

The bottom line: Read this. READ IT. Really.

Lady Linnet is in trouble, big trouble. Caught kissing a prince and poor satorial choices have convinced the ton she is a fallen woman. Nothing is left for her but a hasty marriage to a man none too picky about where his heir comes from. That man is Piers Marchant, an abrupt, brash, and physically-limited earl who has hidden himself in the wilds of Wales and doctors the locals. Or so that is the beginning to this fairy tale. Numerous emotional twists and turns carry it quickly away from that sordid beginning and along the more prosaic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale arc.

Eloisa James writes romances with sophisticated and often cynical characters. The dialogue all but zings off the page. It is reminiscent of Julia Quinn's rapid fire dialogue, but that is not giving Ms. James enough credit - the chemistry between the characters crackles. It is more than a little anachronistic and my eyes rolled by chapter 3 when I realized that Piers, the hero, is heavily modelled on TV's Dr. House, but I'm glad I stuck with it to the very satisfying end. The Beauty and the Beast plotline is one of my favorites and I appreciated how Ms. James turned it on its head a little with the final crisis of the book.

It is a bit too light and the Dr. House gimmick keeps it from being a full five-starred book. But it is a fun read and an entertaining means to while away an afternoon.

To be honest, I quit reading Eloisa James awhile ago. I struggled with her books because often times there were so many characters introduced that I couldn't keep them all straight! The main couple was often lost amongst all the other things going on, and being so frustrated, I moved on to other authors.

When I started hearing all the buzz about this book, I decided to give it a chance, and I am so very glad that I did!

I love stories where I begin to believe that the couple in the book are truly meant for one another. I had that very experience with this book.

The beginning chapters were just alright for me, but as soon as Piers and Linnet meet, I was hooked. Their banter is so fun and engaging, I was chuckling throughout most of the book. As many have eluded to, Piers resembles "House" from the TV series. To be honest, Dr. House irritates me, but I fell in love with Piers (especially towards the end).

This book has it all. It is humorous, sensual, witty, and totally engaging. The ending is absolutely worthy of a re-read and the epilogue perfectly completes the story. I loved this one, couldn't put it down, and may have to recommit some time and money to this author!

I think this is my favorite Eloisa James novel ever. The charmingly clever plot, the witty dialog, the steamy scenes, and the happily-ever-after--everything about this book was delicious. You won't regret buying this book. I am an avid reader of this genre and I particularly appreciate it when an author manages to take me somewhere unique like a chicken coop in Wales. Or to a ball where one modishly unflattering gown can change the course of ones life. Usually, it is the other way around where the companion/vicar's daughter/poor relation/Cinderella/oppressed heiress/gypsy/bespectacled headmistress gets some pretty new dresses and then finds true love. Of course, I eat up all of those sorts of plots, too. It is just that this book gives new meaning to the question, "does this dress make me look fat?"

The hero was droll and sexy. He knew he was a goner at first sight of Linnet, but he was in valiant denial every step of the way, with every dropped towel and small clothes washed out to sea. Some readers thought this character was too much of a rip-off of the doctor character on the show House. Admittedly, I have never seen the show. Living as I do under the metaphorical rock of my unplugged television, the character of Piers didn't make me think of Hugh Laurie at all. It is a shame that some readers got hung up on the similarities. In my experience, there are two kinds of doctors: kind souls or crusty, irritable, sleep deprived beasts. Can readers not imagine a jerk of a doctor other than House? Seriously?

I greatly enjoyed this novel. The hero and heroine were truly individuals, with strong personalities, emotional problems and an ability to spar with each other verbally that caused me to laugh out loud several times.

I also like the medical setting of the novel -- some historical romances bore me, with heroes who apparently do nothing but lounge around in their exquisite clothes. It was a relief to see a hero who had a career.

The heroine's refreshing humor and practicality were enjoyable, as was her skilled management of the "beast" hero.

The novel is full of unexpected plot twists and turns -- including a terrible incident where the hero and heroine are nearly separated permanently -- I would describe the novel as a "dramedy" (comedy/drama).

There is also an intriguing sub-plot involving the hero's middle-aged, divorced parents, who waver about reconciliation, and are presented as still romantically active and dynamic individuals in their own rights.

You'll enjoy this book.

I bought 4 newly-released HRs on Jan. 25, of which this was one. But I saved this one to read last because I suspected it would be the best of the 4 and I didn't want to spoil the reading of the other 3 by having them suffer by comparison. Well, I was right. I look for love and romance, not just steamy sex, in the HRs I read and this one is beautifully romantic. It's not quite a 5-star romance for me because it was slow to catch my interest in the beginning chapters, but by chapter 7, when H and h meet, it was going full steam ahead.

The book is a lovely balance of humor, romance and even a bit of history of the field of medicine. It even has steamy sex scenes, but even more fulfilling is the love that develops between H and h. And, of course, as usual James' exceptional writing ability is evident. This is a really good HR, worthy of 4.5 stars. I couldn't decide if I should round up or not but figured my rating doesn't matter much because the book is receiving its very fair share of 5-star ratings from others.

If you like your heroine physically perfect yet somehow flawed, if you like your hero to be titled but uncaring for his title, then this book is for you. Eloise James creates two such lovable characters that it is extremely difficult to put down this book.

Our hero is a doctor. Not just a good doctor but a god among doctors who has under his wing a coterie of young doctors (today's interns). In a humorous vein Ms. James gives them some fun names which I will not divulge here. When Piers Yelverton (our hero doctor) realizes he is being matched with the delightful Miss Lynnet Thrynne (she who agrees to fake a pregnancy in order to marry), he balks at first. His gruff nature and limping gait (think Dr. House here) should be enough to put off Miss Thrynne. But Lynnet sees behind our Earl's gruff exterior to the hurt beneath the surface.

Wonderful characters, a new twist to romance, and some exciting escapades make this romance difficult to put down. It is Eloisa James at her best!

Don't judge a book by its cover, they say. Pretty hard to do when the cover is as gorgeous as this one. I don't usually fawn over book art, but the front and back cover paintings are breathtaking. The story itself is extremely engaging and the writing is absolutely wonderful. If you enjoy romance, especially historical romance, chances are you'll love When Beauty Tamed the Beast. I love Piers and Linnet together; you can't help but root for them. I love what Eloisa James does at the end with the plot, and the message that it brings to the reader. We are obsessed with looks, but at the end of the day we fall in love with people based on what they have inside. The way they tilt their head back and laugh, the glint in their eyes when they smile at you. I love books that have this message. Highly recommended!

Linnet has become the talk of the ton in the most negative way. She has flirted with the wrong person who thinks too much of himself to not marry royalty. Linnet thought her overwhelming beauty and delightful curves could sway him but instead she found herself in a carriage on her way to marry a man everyone called "The Beast". Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant was a gifted physician who is revolutionizing medicine, her to a title and a complete and utter crab. He had a childhood injury that required the use of a cane that Piers used to empower his ability to harass the interns and boss the patients around.

Linnet soon discovered Piers may have had pain from his injury but the deepest was inside from the father who deserted him and the thought that no one could love him. She saw past the barriers he had put up to keep himself save from any emotion but anger and the more Piers gets to know her the more he is sure she could redeem him yet he refuses to let her help him.

After enough time in the Castle with Piers, Linnet soon discovers that she can manipulate the household, dazzle everyone with her smile and help treat the sick. But when Piers pushes too hard and drives her away will he be able to bring her back into his life let alone back from the brink of death as she lays sick with fever. Is Piers strong enough to finally let go of his destructive behavior and become a man of character?

This book is wonderful, charming and turns the tale of Beauty and Beast into a fascinating read. I felt this also drew on the character of "House" with the tough outside and soft inside Piers who has a pithy remark for everything. The love between these two is healing and flows from every page, please don't miss reading this book.

This book was so good and a new twist on this great genre. The concept is that their rumor that Linnet Thrynne is pregnant by Prince Augustus Frederick and attempt to save face her family sents her to Wales to marry a Earl who needs a child to maintain the line. Everyone calls Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant the Beast and the thinks Doctor/Earl is unable to have children. Linnet and Piers fight from the very beginning which is so great ! A very nice secondary love story of the Piers parents who have estranged. I loved the journey that Eloisa James took the read on - a great read!

If you enjoy this genre I would also suggest ;Storming the Castle: An Original Short Story with Bonus Content ,The Devil in Disguise: A Regency Rogues Novel and How to Marry a Duke.

Audio- wonderful tale of love lust and anger. The beast is a young Doctor with daddy issues and a physical injury that left him with a bad leg. He roars around yelling at all and happy with none. The beauty is of course a beauty that was used for her looks and tossed out of the Ton because of pregnancy rumors. She is shipped off the the beast in an arranged marriage to give him an heir and her a husband to save her from ruin.
Their tale is filled with anger, snarky humor, lust and stubbornness. They are beautiful together, even at the worst. The supporting characters fit well and bring laughter to the right moments. We all know the tale of beauty and the beast, and still there are many surprises here. Not to be missed for a romantic, historical fairy tale.

I'm a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings, generally, and this version didn't disappoint, though it's definitely one of the looser interpretations -- not unlike the rest of this Fairy Tales series by James, it's more of an homage to the story than a strict retelling.

But.
The dialog in this book is SO snappy and perfectly written, it's an example of what smart, sassy, and NATURAL dialog should be! It does an incredible job of characterization, too -- the chemistry between Linnet and Piers is fantastic. Absolutely perfectly balanced, start to finish.

I have always been a fan of fairy tale retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast ones. So when I found out that Eloisa James was writing another fairy tale retelling, I was very excited. I think this book was one of the best I've read. I was not disappointed after all that wait. In fact, I had a lot of trouble trying to get a hold of this book. And today was the first day it was out.

I have to say that I was already hooked with the story after reading the first chapter. I found the story compelling from the very beginning. After the Prince apologized to Linnet for not being able to marry her, causing a scandal, and even worse, the gown she wore made people believe she was pregnant. An odd predicament that left her without suitors.

I thought that Linnet was a strong female character. She was not afraid to speak her mind despite the circumstances she found herself in. She never backed down even when Piers displayed his temper. Piers was an intriguing character too. He believed at the beginning that his terrible reputation was enough to scare the ladies away. Unfortunately for him, his title and estate were much more appealing. Throughout the book, I saw a resemblance between Piers and Dr. House from the medical drama, House. He was direct and curt to his patients, always trying to solve the next medical mystery.

Linnet and Piers were perfect for each other. I could see elements of Beauty and the Beast in the story, but the book was just based loosely on the fairy tale. There was no magical curse that made the Beast what he was. His condition was from a life altering event that shaped Piers into the person he became.

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially since it has elements from Beauty and the Beast. But the book itself is original. The characters are unique and interesting. The book has funny moments and even one particular sad scene. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast romantic fairy tale retelling. I couldn't put this book down.

I have read other books by this author and though she is very good I did not care for the fact that most of her H/H sleep around, and I do not care for a long time period between H/H being separated or a husband waiting nine years to reclaim wife, etc. This makes for a good story if this is what some like. Regarding this book, it is a very good book, her best as far as I am concerned. If she continues to write books in this quality I will definitely return to reading this author. I have one problem and that is with the opium. During this period of time, opium was easily accessible. There were many opium eaters and many opium dens. Laudanum was easy to acquire. If Piers is 30 to 32 years of age, and was 6 years old when he was injured and he and his mother left, this is some 24 to 26 years since he has seen his father. His father was so heavily addicted when Piers was 6 that he caused Piers injury. According to page 91, Piers father states the he has been opium free for 12 years, then on page 249 he states that he has been opium free for 7 or 8 years. (Poor editing). Due to not knowing exactly Piers age and also inconsistency of his fathers opium freedom, this would make his father an opium addict for 12 to 14 years or 14 to 16 years. Heavily addicted when Piers was six, it is almost impossible that this man would still be alive. I believe that the average life span of an opium eater/addict was about five years if the person was in reasonale health when first addicted. Still this a very good book, I admire Piers, but I just know that I could not love or have anything to do with my father after causing me so much pain an suffering as well the indignity to my mother. Forgive him, yes i could, forget what happened a definite no, impossible. His father chose to become an addict. When one is freely given a choice, then something is chosen and then something(s) is discarded. His family was discarded. Just my opinion, still I do like this book.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James is a take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Linnet, the beauty in the story, was caught kissing a visiting Prince and is ruined for marriage. Piers Yelverton, the Earl of Marchant is the beast. He is a doctor who lives in Wales where his bad temper runs almost everyone off. Both parents see their marriage as the answer to a problem. Of course, this is not a match made in heaven. Throw in some old history between Piers and his Father, Linnet's wit and charm and you have the makings of a good story.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast is a cute story. I liked both Piers and Linnet and there were other memorable characters and secondary plots that added spice to the book.

I've read quite a few of Eloisa James' books and liked them for the most part. That said, I found "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" a very fun read that I couldn't put down. Linnet is a lively fun heroine and Piers a grumpy but not obtuse hero. Reading some of the other reviews, I can see how Piers could be considered a "historical House". I've never seen even a single episode of "House" so I didn't see that similarity on my own and didn't find it distracting from the story. I loved the banter between Linnet and Piers, and the wittiness and humor. At many points I laughed out loud. Was this a perfectly written book? Maybe, maybe not. But I sure enjoyed reading it.

I love the tv show House and I love EJ's version of House. (Is there any change of Hugh Laurie flashing his english accent and visiting the regency period???)

This was a delightful version of the classic tale. The brilliant and brash doctor and the bold, untamed beauty. The banter between the two is great especially as they effectively strip the layers off each other. I could have been happy with just that interaction but we had far more in the story. Family issues (on both sides), the hospital, an epidemic and our beauty suffering more than just heartbreak.

It was a grand and glorious tale and I enjoyed it greatly.

Eloisa James is clearly a good writer, but her novels are rarely my favorites. I often feel that she is so caught up in her source material--often the farces of 18th century drama--that characters end up being rather shallow. Or I feel that there are too many romances going on in the text (again a characteristic of the bedroom farce). So while her prose sings, I don't usually care about her characters the way I care about the protagonists in the best novels written by Lisa Kleypas.

But this one is a winner. Warning--there is clear source material here, less beauty and the beast than the television show House. James is very honest about that, and one reviewer is repelled by her inspiration. But this is better than any "fan fiction" I've ever read--it is a reimagining of a character in a different historical context. In the novel, the beautiful heroine is bartered off to marry the estranged son of a Duke. She travels to his castle and witty banter ensues--VERY witty banter. I actually felt like the two of them were falling in love with each other because they communicated in a compatible way. And I actually teared up at one point in the novel. This is really one of her best.

I have to devide this book in 2 parts. The first part was a comedy with light witty dialogue bringing the hero to life as you envisioned him being Dr. House. The heroine seemed almost lacking of character but she redeemed herself in the end, although she was rather selfish in a nice sort of way. The second half became dramatic until I almost shed a tear near the end. All in all a very good read with some great secondary characters which the writer could have further explored. The end was a little too hasty.

I have paperback version of this book but a wanted to read it while running so I borrowed the kindle version.
It's a great version of Beauty and the Beast. I love the old fairy tale and this variant has all the hallmarks that captured my adoration years ago. There is a strong female lead who doesn't seem to bend to the norms of society. The cool twist that I really enjoyed was that the beast was well educated. It made them equals.

Well, I've never seen House, so my opinion wasn't tainted by the program. I did, however, have high hopes because I like beastly and reformable heros.

Piers was a rude jerk to everyone and that's how he stayed. A distasteful trait in any hero, regardless of his injury or his relationship with his father. Linnet seemed so uncaring in regards to his phyical pain. She never asked what she could do to help him feel better. Despite him saying over and over again that massages were just about the only thing that helped, she never simply gave him a massage. There didn't seem to be much reason for them to fall in love outside of the fact that she managed to not let him push her around. What's with the "What happens in Wales stays in Wales" line. That was awful.

Then there was the horrible notion that her "of quality" family would actually encourage Linnet to get herself truly compromised because of a rumor they knew wasn't true. Sending her on her way to Wales with no chaperon to boot! By the end Piers sends Linnet away in a mean and stupid way, but then realizes she is probably ill and finds her being kept in a chicken coop (of all the ridiculous things) by unscrupulous inn owners. This was truly cringe worthy. Piers's valiant efforts to get her clean was nicely written - though the reason too contrived. Didn't anyone else wonder why he just didn't have a matress or two moved down to the kitchen to care for her so he wouldn't have to haul untold buckets of water upstairs by himself once he sent the only other person there back to the castle?

I would have liked the ending ever so much better if Linnet would have suffered some lasting scaring so that she could get over her beautiful self. She was so sickenly worried over the possible loss of her looks that such an end might have given her a nice humbling. Could have done without hearing about their brattily precocious son and daughter with her mother's beauty.

The general theme of the story isn't anything new, but the clever writing makes this a fantastic book. The interactions between Piers and Linnet are witty and entertaining. The characters are well developed and the reader can feel the emotions of the characters through the great writing. Highly recommend this one.

**slight spoiler**
At one point I did think to myself that Piers resembles House MD, but kept reading. Honestly if I had read the reviews first, about the House parallels, I would have skipped it. House annoys me to no end. I'm glad I didn't because Piers is a much more sympathetic character and I really enjoyed the book.

I'll just give the reasons I liked it: LOVED the characters themselves...while i was reading this one, i was reading another popular author's book and while it was a good story, i never liked the two main characters! I really liked "Beauty and Beast"! I loved the H/H funny, smart, sassy dialogue together and when they were talking to others, too. The dialogue was never boring -- and made me laugh several times. Their characters had depth--i could tell EJ spent time crafting these two characters--and loved them herself. I did notice some editing misses here and there but they didn't bother me. I read the book in a day and THOROUGHLY enjoyed the journey! I will always pick up an EJ novel as i've never been disappointed. This one is one of her best!

I really didn't get "into" this book until about half way through. Then it was amazing, and I was eager to read at any chance I got.
I feel that with most historical romance books, it takes forever for the story to really get rolling. So please don't give up after the first chapter or two.
As the author states in her "author's notes" the main character is roughly based off the TV character Dr. House. and she nailed it, you can really picture him only more handsome.
Linnet, well she was very conceited about her looks and that does come back to bite in the butt later in the book.
Overall, a wonderful read.

I don't even really know why I ordered this book from our local library - I have read bits and pieces from EJ's Duchess series and didn't like the books at all. This one, however, seemed quite different, it doesn't take itself too seriously. I loved the witty banter and the different personas, from the grumpy H (and I've never seen 'House') to the rude butler. It's fluffy and absolutely impossible and, well, just plain fun.

3.5 stars. Can always count on Eloisa James for some laughs and fun, witty dialogue. This started off light hearted enough, was specifically looking for a light read with Eloisa James much like I look forward to the poignancy of Mary Balogh's. In this case though, I found that the light heartedness faded as the book went on, not meaning that as a criticism as I still enjoyed the book well enough. As the book progresses and you learn the history behind Pier's family and his injury, it provides just a bit of depth than what I was expecting from the author.

This is my first book reading by this author and I was very shocked in that I loved it as much as I have but I did. Linnet had beauty and attitude and wasn't afriad of the Beast of a man Piers. She stood her ground and fought for her right to be herself although at times failing but not giving up. At the end Piers tells her why he is such a Beast of a person and she starts melting that ice wall he puts up. But at the end of the story its the Beast who has to melt the walls of Beauty's heart after a terrible thing happens.

I very much like Miss James' writing style and one of my all-time favourite books that she's written is Your Wicked Ways. I think I now have two all-time favourites by her. I loved this book. From beginning to end. The main characters were well-defined, both with strong distinct personalities. The scenery was beautiful, the background and circumstances very interesting and different from other romance novels - and I've read a lot of them.

The mark of a great book for me is when I can't bear to put it down before I have finished it. Well, I couldn't put this down until I finished it.

I ended up really liking this book, after a truly dull and unrelated beginning that went on for 70+ pages. I'm so glad I hung in there because once the book started it was really great. The House character was done flawlessly and had to be difficult to pull off. Impressive for House fans. He was a beast! If you try it, either skip right to page 70, once the hero and heroine are on the same playing field, or be very, very patient. Good book.

I have been very bored lately and decided to go online and search for romance novels centering around the "beauty and the beast" theme novel. I came across this novel by Eloisa James, I have heard of her but have never actually read a book from her. From all the reviews on the store and goodreads, I was expecting this novel to be very good. To my disappointment, it was not. I found the characters to be very unlikable for some reason, and while I am all for the dark, scarred, sarcastic hero. I also want the story to delve deeper inside and actually feel more of his emotions. But, for Piers, what you see is what you get. I never felt emotionally connected to him at all, he just seemed like a jerk through out the entire thing, and didn't seem to change when he fell in love with linnet. Which brings me to my next point, Linnet. I didn't like her from the get-go, she seemed very shallow and too beautiful to be realistic. I love novels who have very beautiful women but to where their beauty isn't the only thing about them, for Linnet it seemed like the only thing she had going for her was her looks. They both were one dimensional and didn't make me feel for them at all. I understand Eloisa basing the hero off of house (come on house was awesome) but that's the thing, it seemed like she just stole him without making her own character. As an inspiring romance author myself, of course I will see someone on television I would want to make a book for (Oh eric from true blood! so dreamy, *sigh*) And if I really get into that character that I want to write about, I will, but It just seems important to change that character and make him your own. It just seemed like this author took House directly from the t.v, made him have less depth, and totally unlikable, and then used it as her own character. Lets not even talk about the ending, the last 60 pages were the worst part of the book. I didn't even see how these two fell in love, there was no initial emotion before the fall, they were just sleeping together. And boom! they were in love. Made no sense. But no matter how much I didn't like the book, I still give this author props because I know how hard it is to write and get a book published. I know from the reviews that a bunch of people loved it, but I just didn't connect with the characters or stories. Good for you whoever liked it, but for me this was my first...and last book from this author.

The best thing about When Beauty Tamed the Beast was Linnet. She doesn't let Piers dour, temperamental ways get her down. She's beautiful but also an intelligent and witty woman. Piers is "the beast" but really this refers to his personality more than his looks although he is physically scarred and walks with a cane.
Their relationship seems natural and I like how he opens up to her emotionally as well as physically.
Really nice story. I will definitely be checking out the authors other books.

Cute story -- it did take a chapter or so to get really into the story, a bit longer than usual with her books. But once Linnet got to meet 'the beast', Piers, and started matching wits with him, the story took off. I loved Kibble and Bitts [interns], and Prufrock the butler (I had to read her Historical notes to get all of the references).

I borrowed this from our library via OverDrive.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The hero, castle-bound in Wales by his own taciturn choice and busy doctoring people who come to him from near and far, is wonderfully unusual. The heroine, a product of her selfish parents' choices and seeking to escape them, is determined enough to know what will be best for her future. The trouble that sets her on the road to the castle is so amusing, and her the lessons she ultimately learns about herself are believable. An excellent read!

What an amazing story!! That totally took me by surprise! i really liked all the medical stuff and the love story was beautiful. The cover, however, is awful.
Highly recommend!!!!
<3<3<3

I really enjoyed this quirky romance which is really an episode of House, M.D.: Season One, in costume. Devotees may be deeply upset about this modern take on regency romance, but I thought it was fun. I found the medical descriptions to be really fascinating, which rescued the book from being too frivolous. I would recommend this book, although I don't think it is quite as good as the Desperate Duchess This Duchess of Mine (Desperate Duchesses) series.

I loved this book for the hero (a heir to Duke no less) was working hard as a doctor instead of spending his time as a rake and drinking and gaming with his cronies. The heroine was spunky and I liked the hero for not fawning over the heroine's beauty and the moral of the story about falling in love for something other than beauty was good. The only discrepency was sending the heroine off alone without a chaperone especially in those times.

Let me start out by saying I got this book by accident. I actually received it as a used audio book and did not find out it's nature of erotica until well, I heard the sex scene. Fortunately for me, I don't mind sex at all and kept on listening. There were some things I did very much enjoy. For instance, while she does have a weak plot to build upon the one she does try to make comes out very . . .rich. She just writes summaries completely incorrect. The summary should have expressed something more about the story. The focus isn't on a betrothal- you can't be betrothed if one of the parties doesn't officially agree to it. But there were parts that made me genuinely like the book, the end in particular.

But here's where the issues start. For instance, why the hell are Eloisa's sex scenes so not erotic? One of the best parts of erotica is adapting lust, vulgarity, sensuality and romance to coordinate with the time period. Yet every time I read one of her books her sex scenes are boring restatements of the same things. Why are all of her characters obsessed with breasts? Nobody cares. It's not sensual to focus on them in the way she does. Why does she have to have names with overt puns, and why on earth is her foreshadowing terrible in terms of her own plot?

Why was it necessary to say Piers had slept with women before? Wouldn't that in it's own terms be jeopardizing the illusion he has cast on himself, not to mention it was thrown in there. Not to mention the true parallels with House, who she loves to boast Piers is based off of, are so transparent that he really isn't like House at all. How many of you have seen House? House is stuck up, but also disrespectful and outright states half the things that Piers tries to discourage himself from thinking. His tone of voice is nothing like House, but she flaunts the cane and the high class doctor status like it means jack- it doesn't. He's a bad impersonation of House and comparing them makes me like Piers less, so I won't.

Why did Linnet not just say no in that first sex scene? It wasn't attractive, it felt like the strong girl we'd seen gave in just cause. Not to mention what's with virgins in Eloisa's books being unrealistically into sex. I think the fun was from learning how great it could be. And of course this is an issue all erotica has- but it's yet another reason why I can barely stomach the sex scenes.

But, the dreadfully romantic later half of the book sold me. In fact, I'd be more apt to respect this book if it would have cut the unnecessary sex scenes and went with the plot it had, and then consummated the relationship. That would be pretty solid. The Scarlet Fever stuff was the best thing the book did, and while this wins no awards it was cute and if you like erotica, you'll probably like it.

I loved the dialogue in this story. There are two intelligent lead characters in this story, Piers and Linnet, and their witty repartee had me laughing in many places in this story. I love the way the author explored the difference between true beauty and surface beauty. And I love the way this conflict was resolved in the end.

This was a satisfying read and one I would recommend to others.

The Good:

Dude, it's Eloisa James. She takes (most) of the silly bodice ripping cliches out of romance and replaces it with genuinely amazing characters, incredibly well researched and well written stories, intricate subplots, realistic situations (no shoehorning characters together), and plenty of humor and heat. She's an amazing writer who brings dignity to a genre that is not often lauded for having such, and this book is certainly no exception. She neatly pulls you in, then holds you under until the very last page. This is one of those books you'll find yourself saying "just one more chapter" until night has turned to the wee hours of the morning.

The Potentially Bad:

The author herself has openly admitted that her fairy tale series--of which this is one--are not strictly historically accurate. While she does her best with all of her other historical novels, these are written mainly for fun, and as such, she has taken Liberties. Some readers may hate that, so be aware of it before you dive in.

The Utterly Hysterical:

The hero is House. No seriously, the hero is Gregory House MD, just tempered slightly and given a medieval makeover. Again, the author has very openly admitted that House was the inspiration for the hero. If this is going to bother you DO NOT READ IT. Personally, though, I enjoyed the heck out of it. Being a long time lover of both Sherlock Holmes and House--two men very destined to wind up alone without serious changes to their lives--it was nice to finally see a character of that type "get the girl." And not just get her, EARN her.

I see that reviewers disliked the book because of the connection between Piers and House. I love House and when I heard about Eloisa's inspiration, I was skeptical that she could do justice to such a character. But Piers is great, very entertaining and believeable. I also have to mention one thing that I positively adored in the book and that has stuck with me: the description of the outdoor pool!! A fun and satisfying read.

Audio Version. Great reader. I loved listening to this book. The characters were hysterical. I listen to books in the car and usually it takes 2 weeks or longer to get through a book depending to how much long distance driving I do. I loved this book so much that I listened to it while cleaning house and doing things around the home. It made the time go very quickly. I hated for it to end.

I absolutely loved this book. Linnet and Piers are just perfect together. The stuff they say and do is just hilarious and very enjoyable to read. The romance was perfect and I loved how Piers is a doctor rather than the usual heroes who just run estates or something of that nature. I would definitely recommend to others. And Piers is actually inspired by the actual Dr.House.

I especially loved characters' realness. Neither hero nor heroine ever tried being something they are not for another's sake. But beyond that, I appreciate author's ability incorporating medical facts, stories, cases in b/w the scenes with major characters. I found it beyond interesting and sarcastic volleys Piers and Linnet share a delicious bonus! I could feel heartache both characters struggle thru as if it a tangible entity. This book gave me the best emotional rollercoaster ride I expect from a great romance novel: chemistry b/w characters, heroine's boldness to "go for it", and hero's humbleness realizing he needs THIS PARTICULAR woman in his life. Add spices like life's disappointments, suffering, love's ability to conquer all, etc. and it's a book that makes you take a moment for a deep sigh. "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" is my first book read by this author. I will definitely check out others she's written. Thank You Eloisa James for providing this refreshing story and reminding me why I (a single woman) is still hoping in finding true love since it's one of my favorite past times.

This is my first time reading a work by Eloisa James--a publisher sent me "When Beauty Tamed the Beast". This is a semi romantic comedy. Parts of it made me laugh and other parts made think "A[...]"" Linnet Berry Thrynne is a beauty who is betrothed to a beast, Dr. Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant. Piers is known for his temper, and Linnet vows to to make him fall in love with her in just two weeks. There will be challenges and obstacles to face.

Its double the 5s, its worth the read - funny, romantic, cute, just endearing. Love Piers & his cynical, but honest remarks about society; then Linnet, to counterbalance his rudeness, theyre perfect! The characters felt so real, like i was watching a movie about ppl in a Wales Castle & their drama, very imaginative scenes. This was my 1st EJ book, so cant wait to explore her other novels!

I've read Eloisa James' books for years. Historical fiction is a particular favorite of mine and I've found Ms. James' works to be exceptional. In this case, When Beauty Tames the Beast, James puts her own spin on Beauty and the Beast. Her heroine, disgraced in the eyes of the ton, is sent to Wales to become the bride of an obscure earl--a doctor--who's turned his castle into a pseudo-hospital, and who has the bedside manner of a churl.

The argumentative banter between characters is laugh-out-loud funny, the conclusion predictable as this genre is. This is a book I will read again, and probably again. Eloisa James is a keeper.

I especially loved characters' realness. Neither hero nor heroine ever tried being something they are not for another's sake. But beyond that, I appreciate author's ability incorporating medical facts, stories, cases in b/w the scenes with major characters. I found it beyond interesting and sarcastic volleys Piers and Linnet share a delicious bonus! I could feel heartache both characters struggle thru as if it a tangible entity. This book gave me the best emotional rollercoaster ride I expect from a great romance novel: chemistry b/w characters, heroine's boldness to "go for it", and hero's humbleness realizing he needs THIS PARTICULAR woman in his life. Add spices like life's disappointments, suffering, love's ability to conquer all, etc. and it's a book that makes you take a moment for a deep sigh. "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" is my first book read by this author. I will definitely check out others she's written. Thank You Eloisa James for providing this refreshing story and reminding me why I (a single woman) is still hoping in finding true love since it's one of my favorite past times.

This is my first time reading a work by Eloisa James--a publisher sent me "When Beauty Tamed the Beast". This is a semi romantic comedy. Parts of it made me laugh and other parts made think "A[...]"" Linnet Berry Thrynne is a beauty who is betrothed to a beast, Dr. Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant. Piers is known for his temper, and Linnet vows to to make him fall in love with her in just two weeks. There will be challenges and obstacles to face.

Its double the 5s, its worth the read - funny, romantic, cute, just endearing. Love Piers & his cynical, but honest remarks about society; then Linnet, to counterbalance his rudeness, theyre perfect! The characters felt so real, like i was watching a movie about ppl in a Wales Castle & their drama, very imaginative scenes. This was my 1st EJ book, so cant wait to explore her other novels!

I've read Eloisa James' books for years. Historical fiction is a particular favorite of mine and I've found Ms. James' works to be exceptional. In this case, When Beauty Tames the Beast, James puts her own spin on Beauty and the Beast. Her heroine, disgraced in the eyes of the ton, is sent to Wales to become the bride of an obscure earl--a doctor--who's turned his castle into a pseudo-hospital, and who has the bedside manner of a churl.

The argumentative banter between characters is laugh-out-loud funny, the conclusion predictable as this genre is. This is a book I will read again, and probably again. Eloisa James is a keeper.

A cute and sexy romp that met my picky criteria for a good romance novel. All sex is consensual, no stalking, no abuse. (Which it's surprisingly hard to find a romance novel that fits all points). The main protagonists are well rounded and share an intellectual connection. Fun and funny this book is recommended.

I love the Duchesses... read and re-read them. This by far is my favorite. The Dr. House-like "Beast" with the medical underlings named Kibbles and Bitts had me laughing out loud and so oftern, my husband asked it HE might enjoy reading my book when I was finished with it. The love story was classic E. James, but without the quick re-visits from characters of other books which I enjoy so much. This is a fun one... great winter weekend read.

The beast and the beauty are well thought out, but some additional players have issues. I want to know why her aunt or father are not better explained or at least looked at further. As soon as you read about the beast, you know this is a "HOUSE" inspired guy. I give Ms. James credit for explaining her artistic shoplifting of someone else's creation in the end notes. That being said, this is a very enjoyable book, and has some moments of both hummor and sadness. It would have been better if the players stayed closer to the roles that Ms. James lead us to imagine, or at least explain their developement better.

First time reading this author for me and I will definitely be looking into her other books! I was afraid this would just be some 'bodice ripper' with no real meat to the story, but I was wrong! It kept me interested the whole time and I even got teary at the end! A great book with a lot of heart!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the verbal spats between "Beauty" & "Beast". The love scenes were steamy & surprisingly romantic. I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

We all know the tale of beauty and the beast, this is a different spin on it. And I for one am glad. If you like to read the same old plots, with the same old characters, then read something different. Its hard to find good authors with skill, and because of how well the author pulled off this story, I am a bigger fan than before.

This book has mesmerized me- a skeptical historical vet. It has been a long, long time since I've found enjoyment like this (make it nearly 15 years ago when Judith Macnaught and Julie Garwood can do no wrong). An absolute keeper- the book I keep opening when another book has disappointed me and makes me keep faith in historical romance.

I haven't enjoyed the wit and humor in a romance novel as much as I did with this book in a long while. All of the characters are great, from the 2 main ones and all of the supporting cast. I highly recommend this book. Even though the very last part was a little overly dramatic and unbelievable for me.

I started reading this not having to many high hopes, but I am glad I kept reading I loved this book, even though I kept picturing Hugh Laurie twirling his cane, I thought it was a very nice story and I can't believe the ending. I thought it was a great story and the H/H played off each other so well.

I'm loving these Fairy Tales series that Eloisa James is writing. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story. I fell in love with it. Absolutely going on my favorites bookshelf to read again in the future. If you love historical romance, you'll simply love this one.

I could not put this book down! It is a perfect mixture of sexiness and wit and historical facts. It's a little bit like House and you can tell that was an inspiration, but Piers has his own personality and it made this book so unique! The sparring with Linnet had me laughing out loud. I would call this a fantastic fairy tale for grownups.

The author writes beautifully but the book wasn't my cup of tea. There was too much dialogue and pointless banter which failed to drive the story along. I got through 36% of the eBook before I stopped for good. By that point, hardly anything had happened and the characters had not engaged me. I neither liked nor hated them; I just didn't care about what would happen to them.

Love, love, loved it. Love this time era. This was a humurous, different kind of book.
Although the 'good' Dr. represented TV series House in character. He NO way did in looks. Thoroughly enjoyed this one..

I loved this story I enjoyed reading about Linnet and Piers who meet after Linnet experience's a scandal in town and is forced to find someone to marry quickly. This is my first time reading anything by Eloisa James and it won't be my last.

This story does not have the magic that captured me like A Kiss At Midnight. I think the book started off slow, we get all these uncessary chapters before Linnet and Piers finally meet but once they do meet finally the book picks up and I enjoyed it until the scarlet fever epedemic and it does downhill from there.
SPOILERS
First of all, I was already not liking how her father let her go unchaperone with the Duke and how her aunt actually encouraged her to lose her virginity to someone else... what time period are we in!? I dont care if shes already ruined, where are peoples dignity?
Although I only seen a handful of episode of House, I immediatly saw him in Piers - Doctor who walks on a cane with a bad temper but that didnt bother me, I actually like that but when his temper gets the best of him and how he tells Linnet to leave was just cruel!
And then the Duke (Piers Father) lets her go back to London alone!? In the middle of an epedemic at that! I was so upset, again, what time period is this? Ok so the Duke wanted to be with his ex-wife but he was duty bound to take Linnet back! And then Linnet gets sick (With Piers after a week finally taking notice that she might not be well) and all of a sudden she changes her mind about wanting to marry Piers because she no longer feels beautiful. What a hipocrite!
This book felt like a modern soap opera but trying to put it in the 19th century. It didnt work for me.

I usually borrow books from the library and this is one of the book I read and decided "got to have it". Love the way the story goes and the characters' personalities shining through the book. Not mushy love story, but beautiful written and very enjoyable.

James did an excellent job with this book. The dialogue is amusing, the characters are quirky, and the pace is great. What makes this book above par is the way the characters grow together and build each other up - the depth of our hero and heroine is expressed exquisitely. It might be one of my favorite romances!

I Loved it! I've only read a few of Eloisa James' books previously and recall enjoying the stories but this one had so much true wit and chemistry between the characters that I didnt want to put it down.

I have read many books by E. James and what always keeps me coming back to her is the humor with which she crafts her stories. This one is no exception. I found my self laughing out loud at times and then crying into my tissue at others. This is one book that I can see myself re-reading again and again it was that good.

I have to say Beauty and the Beast is my favorite story of all time and Eloisa James did not disappoint with her remake of this classic. I loved Piers' flaws and the way he resembled Gregory House. What a great idea! Another fantastic read, well done!

I read the excerpt for this novel online and was ready to be charmed by the book, but I had no idea I would fall in love with two wonderfully written characters. I won't go into a story plot outline, that can be found everywhere, but I will suffice to say I enjoyed the witty dialogue and medical "hospital" setting. Piers, the Beast, is a 19th century Dr. House with a closet of skeletons to deal with, a Welsh Castle full of sick people, a double-dipping butler and an unwanted fiancee', Linnet, the Beauty. Add into the mix his long estranged father, the Duke- his mother, whom the Duke divorced - and many persons with various maladies, plus other doctors in residence studying with Piers and you have a book full of fun!
Piers and Linnet (an intelligent beauty) verbally spar from the first moment, a writing tool when done correctly is enjoyable, but here it is sublime. It is a romance with the requisite amount of hot love scenes, but it is also funny and sweet and well done. I enjoyed the ending, since I always like epilogues that give me a glimpse into the future lives of the characters.

SPOILER****

E. James names two of the doctors studying with Piers at his castle hospital Kibbles and Bitts...LOL.

I really loved this book. It is not often that I can find a romance from a literate writer where the dialogue is witty and intelligent, the premise is interesting, and the characters are so appealing. Definitely a keeper, I'm planning to read it more than once.

I started the book, skipped to the end to find out if it finished any better (it didn't), and decided not to waste my time. (I don't read a book to find out how it ends, but rather for the pleasure of getting there. In a bookstore, I often read the last few pages first to determine if the book is well-written at the end; if not, I don't bother with the beginning or the middle.) This one I found irritating at both ends.

I've enjoyed Eloisa's novels tremendously until her recent novel "The Kiss At Midnight" and this one. "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" is vulgar and kind of stupid with lots of cursing. Where's Eloisa's wit and humor? I hope to see them again in her future novels.

I didn't expect any more of this novel than a fun retelling of the fairy story, some good dialogue, the usual enjoyable Eloisa James romp. It was all that and a bit more. I have no intention of giving away any of the story but I had a vision at one point when I was sniveling with the poignancy of the moment of Eloisa James as Kathleen Turner at the beginning of the movie after Romancing the Stone where she's writing the last chapter of her romance novel and sobbing over her typewriter. What can I say, they seem like real people whom the author cares about. I think it's her best yet. (And of course they don't live UNhappily ever after)

I have always enjoyed this author, but this was a hard book to read. I found that the two main characters were boring, until the last 100 pages of the book. However, I did like the ending when the doctor realized she could be sick and rescued her.

While I admire the skills of Eloisa James, I did not consider this to be a good example of her abilities. The cutesy names for the characters (Kibbles and Bits, etc) and overt use of the "House" persona (right down to the cane) were distracting and removed me from the story. Just when I thought I might be able to ignore the fact that much of the dialogue was far too modern for the time period, we're hit with the tired line "What happens in Wales stays in Wales". I am SO tired of this line. I rolled my eyes when Julia Quinn adopted it for the title of one of her books - its use here was simply annoying. By the time the "Cuddy" reference was used, I had had enough. I finished the book because several reviewers here claimed the ending was beautiful and emotional. I kept waiting for the big moment to hit....and nothing. Perhaps, by this point I was so far removed from the story that it simply wasn't going to work for me. By the end I found the heroine to be shallow and insipid ("I'm not pretty anymore!")and the hero was arrogant and obnoxious (I LOVE Hugh Laurie as House, but Piers channeling an anemic House simply fell flat). James admitting at the end of the book that she essentially swiped the House persona for her character made it slightly less egregious, but it was still irritating. To those of you who enjoyed this book, kudos to you. I am happy you were entertained. Judging by the reviews here, I am in the minority, but this just did not work for me. Ms. James, please develop your own characters for future titles. Plsthx.

After reading and loving Eloisa James' A Kiss at Midnight last summer, and equally loving the follow-up novella, Storming the Castle, I was thrilled to read that she would be re-imagining my own favorite fairy-tale, Beauty and the Beast.

Unfortunately, I spent the entire novel waiting for the hero, Piers, to stop being a Dr. House clone. Eloisa James usually writes such deep, brilliant, complicated characters, that I held out hope that the House personality would morph into something more creative as the novel progressed. That didn't happen. I was left feeling as though I was watching a House episode in which the good doctor hallucinates about being stuck in 18th century Wales. It really killed the romance for me.

That said, the other characters in this book are pretty original, and interesting, particularly the heroine, Linnet, and both of Piers' parents. The premise, too, is interesting, a neat twist on the old Beauty and the Beast story. When I could get Hugh Laurie's voice out of my head, I enjoyed the book. Too bad that didn't happen more often.

I purchased this book based on the reviews and now I simply dont want anyone else to be misled into thinking that you'll cry over the ending and that the book is truly moving, because frankly, it's not. It's not like I expected a whole lot of depth, I just wanted a fun, lusty book with a little bit of my favorite fairy-tale thrown in. But as I began to read the book, I became more and more disappointed.
The characters are disjointed, unrealistic and unlikable, writing is also disjointed, one minute a character is right next to someone and then he's all the way across the room in the next. The dialogue is even worse, it seems that the author simply throws in old fashioned words at times and expects it to pass as historical accuracy. The author also cheats her way out of a technical problem with one of the characters simply saying "I lied. Ta-da!"
To any discerning reader, who is used to period pieces such as Pride and Prejudice, North & South or Vanity Fair, this book is almost agony. I would recommend reading "Heart's Blood" by Juliet Marillier instead. Better concept, more issues addressed, better writing, deeper characters, historically accurate, just a little less sex.
Hope that cleared a few things up. Good luck.

After getting into this book a bit, the story started to sound familiar. And no, I didn't get a "Beauty and the Beast" feeling. It was "Dr. Gregory House, Historical Edition". Yes, the hero reminded me a lot of the T.V. show "House". And after reading the author's comments at the end of the book, that was what she intended. Fortunately, I am a big House fan. Otherwise, I may have been turned off. I did enjoy the book - the chemistry and dialogue between the leads were charming.