BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR by Naima Simone-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 10, 2015

Billionaire Lucas Oliver is hell bent on revenge. And his plan begins when Sydney Blake—the stunning daughter of his enemy—is tricked into bidding on Lucas at a bachelor auction. Then he serves up a little blackmail…followed by a marriage proposal Sydney has no choice but to accept.

Sydney has been controlled by her family her whole life. When Lucas threatens to reveal her father’s shady business, she is once again forced to do her duty for her family. But worse—oh so much worse—is the rush of lust that Lucas ignites in her blood.

Lucas is determined to make Sydney suffer, but it’s tough when he can’t keep from touching her–or thinking about touching her–all the time. She’s not fairing much better since she’s engaged to a darkly handsome beast intent on destroying her entire family…along with her heart.

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REVIEW: BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR is an adult, contemporary, romantic retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. This is billionaire Lucas Oliver, and socialite Sydney Blake’s storyline.

Told from dual third person perspectives BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR focuses on betrayal, revenge and blackmail. Lucas Oliver is determined to destroy Sydney’s father starting with blackmailing Sydney into marriage. What ensues is a building relationship that begins with a bachelor auction, a series of lies and lies by omission-ones that finds our heroine understanding that she has become a pawn in a financial war between billion dollar enterprises.

The relationship between Sydney and Lucas begins acrimoniously as Sydney feels she has no other recourse then to marry Lucas Blake to protect her father from financial ruin. As the storyline builds so too does Lucas and Sydney’s relationship blossoming from spite to friendship to love but all does not go according to plan when Sydney’s believes that Blake has broken his promise. The $ex scenes are intimate, romantic and seductive.

The secondary and supporting characters include Blake’s best friend Aiden who believes that Blake’s need for revenge will not end as expected. We are also introduced to Sydney’s ex fiancé Tyler Reinhold, and her parents Charlene and Jason Blake. Sydney’s mother is all about appearances and with that comes a judgmental attitude and air of superiority.

The world building reveals two family histories connected by lies, deceit and betrayal. The lifestyle of the uber-rich and famous is wrapped in the clichéd beliefs of dominance and power; and sticking it anyone who gets in the way.

BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR is an entertaining storyline; an enemies to friends to lovers storyline that begins as an act of betrayal leading to a fifteen year plan of revenge and retribution. The characters are colorful, charismatic and spirited; the romance intoxicating and emotional; the happily ever after passionate and fated when the Beast falls in love with his Beauty.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy