Finding Beauty in the Beast by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee

Finding Beauty in the Beast by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee
My rating: 4,5 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Fairy-Tale Retelling with a twist

Book Description:  Princess Rose's fiery temper has kept every potential suitor away...until now. After being spurned and humiliated for the last time, the princes forces every eligible man to present a gift to her under pain of death. The man who brings her the best gift will be chosen as her husband. 

When Corbin presents his gift, he hopes that his simple offering will keep him safely overlooked. All he wants is to return to his quiet life as a blacksmith away from forbidding castles and beastly princesses. But love works in mysterious ways, and it all starts with a rose...

My thoughts: There are times when you finish reading a book, and you just smile. Then you remember that it's over and long for more time with the story and characters. This is what "Finding Beauty in the Beast" was for me.

How could a reader not fall in love with Corbin. He is a true gentleman. He has a trait of finding the good in the bad. He rescues the Princess. Rose is not truly the beast that everyone thinks she is. Sometimes it takes a little patience and kindness to bring out the good in the most difficult people.

This book is a journey. It is a journey of two troubled people who learn to be better. It is a sweet story with a few "thorns". I loved learning why roses have thorns and the noble traits of a rose. Sometimes when life is hard, thorns make people stronger and their inner beauty shines forth. That is what I see in this book.

This is a re-telling, but the beast is a Princess and she is "tamed" by a blacksmith. There is an evil character (one of the thorns) who helped the characters fight for each other. Seriously, you just need to read the book. It is well written and fun to read.

The book contains mild violence, talk of an unwed mother, and a brief kiss. I think is is suitable for teens on up.

Online Purchase Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books & Things

Read an Excerpt:

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“A beast. That was what they called her.
When she was in a good temper, Princess Rose’s face was deceptively sweet, even beautiful. Her large emerald eyes could appear tender, her rosebud lips touched with softness. There was a time, some would say, that her voice was warm and full of life and, though no one believed it, that she used to laugh.

But today, there was no hint of softness, no trace of tenderness. Her eyes blazed like green fire and she pursed her lips until they became indistinguishable from her pale skin. The freckles she painstakingly tried to hide glared angrily across her nose and cheeks—cheeks deep crimson from humiliation. No tears would escape her eyes, no quivering would touch her lips. She sat—cold and aloof—her gaze fixed straight ahead, glaring at the opposite wall of the swaying carriage.”

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About the  Author:  Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee was born the fourth of seven children into a family of avid readers, music lovers, movie quoters, and sports fans. Jessilyn graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. She loves going on dates with her husband and playing with her five adorable, rambunctious boys. Jessilyn grew up in the beautiful high desert of Southern California and now resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. As you read this, she is probably folding laundry . . . or should be. Current Residence: Saratoga Springs, UT