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Book Description
A deliciously steamy, suspenseful, and darker contemporary royalty Beauty and the Beast retelling about a grumpy single dad and the woman who brings him to his knees. Welcome to the cursed kingdom of Messalina…
When my sick father wanders into the off-limits palace where the widowed king of Messalina lives with his three children, I know we're in trouble.
Locked away since the tragic death of his wife, the whispers of an ancient royal curse are more alive than ever.
And when my father is taken prisoner and I accidentally break a priceless statue, I learn first hand that the rumors of the callous beast king with his gorgeous face and frosty disposition are true.
Especially when he gives me an ultimatum: become the nanny for his children or my father goes to prison.
It isn't until I move into the palace that I see there's life in the walls, passion lurking beneath smoldering glances and forbidden moments, and endless love for three beautiful children--the king's one soft spot.
The longer I stay, the more in love I fall with the children and the man who does all he can to keep his distance. Until one night he shatters my innocence and shows me exactly what it means to be owned by the king.
But this is no fairy tale, and no matter how we feel, we can never be together.
On top of that, there's a darkness we can't escape. A danger lurking, waiting to kill again.
And when it comes for us, there will be no stopping it until it succeeds.
About Julie Saman
J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).
J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side - especially for their women.
My Thoughts
The story begins when English teacher Bellamy, seeking to negotiate the release of her elderly father after he accidentally trespasses into the off-limits palace of Messalina, comes face-to-face with Sebastian, the widowed king. Sebastian, feared by his people and bound by an ancient royal curse, gives her an impossible ultimatum: become the nanny to his three children, or her father faces imprisonment. Desiree Ketchum perfectly captures Bellamy’s strength, vulnerability, and quiet defiance, while Sean Masters brings Sebastian’s authority, restraint, and underlying torment to life with controlled intensity, instantly elevating the audiobook.
Inside the palace walls, Bellamy discovers a man shaped by loss, duty, and an unrelenting need for control, yet fiercely devoted to his children—his one soft spot. As the weeks turn into months, she not only brings life back to the palace and his children but reluctantly, to the King himself. Their chemistry is pure tension: forbidden glances, sharp words, and explosive passion that quickly gives way to raw, possessive obsession. Sebastian’s confession, "You’re mine, Bellamy. I’ll never be able to let you go," signals the danger of their connection. The romance unfolds with restraint, driven not by excessive spice but by longing, power imbalance, and emotional stakes that feel earned.
Narration by Sean Masters and Desiree Ketchum brings another level of emotions and truly breathes life into these characters, making you want to get lost in this book even more
What truly elevates the narrative is how thoughtfully loss is handled—both romantic and familial—and how love is portrayed not as a cure, but as a tremendous risk. Their connection deepens in ways neither can afford, forcing them to confront the curse, the past, and the cost of choosing love when the world insists they shouldn't. As proximity blurs boundaries and attraction ignites, danger closes in, and secrets unravel, leading to a massive cliffhanger that leaves a sharp emotional impact and an immediate need for the next installment. This isn't a soft fairy tale meant to comfort; it’s a darker, deliciously steamy, and addictive journey into a cursed kingdom.
Other books I've read by J. Saman HERE!!
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