Last updated on 04/27/2026
He’s the scarred, reclusive duke the village is calling a monster.
She’s the stubborn authoress determined to expose him.
The Duke of Bexley prefers his solitude, hiding behind the gates of Ironwood Manor and the rumors that keep the world at bay. If they believe he’s a beast, so be it.
Miss Rosamund Belle needs a story that will secure her inheritance—and the Beastly Duke is perfect. She isn’t afraid of his scars, his temper, or his brooding silence. She is simply determined to uncover the truth… even if it means pretending she’s a common miss to gain his trust.
But proximity sparks a heat neither of them expects, and when Rosamund’s falsehoods unravel (because ultimately, they always do), the line between love and betrayal shatters.
Perfect for fans of:
- Beauty and the Beast
- Bold bluestocking heroines
- Scarred and broody heroes
- Hidden identity
- Inheritance provisions
- “I can’t love you, I’m not safe” heroes
Review:
I’ll never say no to a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this one was cute!
Rosamund’s mission from her father is to publish something under her own name (she’s been using a male pen name up to this point), and she decides that she’s going to use her words to rehab the image of Julian, the “beastly” duke who was injured in the service and has essentially become a recluse since. (Apparently there’s rumors circulating in London about his being unfit to be a duke, I think? That part was a bit fuzzy, but she was worried that he was in danger of having his dukedom taken from him. Or something along those lines.)
Julian has no real interest in helping Rosamund out, but night is coming (that part was his fault, she was waiting for him to come talk to her for literal hours) and there’s wolves in the forest (naturally), so of course she has to stay for dinner and then overnight. Because she’s a freckled redhead and stubborn as heck, the next morning she wears him down and gets him to agree to her staying for 3 days.
Which accidentally turns into 4 days. Oops.
And then…things happen. As they do. 😉
I liked the two of them together; they were very sweet. He really had no chance against her sheer determination to succeed–probably because he’s a big softie inside, and I mentioned the freckles? The ending was especially sweet; I really liked what he brings her and the ultimate choice she made with her article. I do wish we could have seen more here–some more exploration of Julian’s “problem” (PTSD, probably? It’s barely even touched on here) or an epilogue would have been fun–but ultimately this was a complete story, if a short one.
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.