How Beauty Saved the BeastAuthor: Jax Garren
Series: Tales of the Underlight #2
Published by: Carina Press
Publication Date: February 11, 2013
Format: eARC
Pages: 148
Source: Publisher
Jolie Benoit left her old life behind to become an agent of the Underlight. Training under Sergeant Wesley Haukon, she’s honing her combat skills, all the while coping with the intense sexual attraction she feels for Hauk. She keeps their friendship casual, but when his high school sweetheart transfers into their division, Jolie finds herself grappling with jealousy.
The Underlight gave Hauk a purpose, but he can’t escape his past completely. The physical and emotional scars from the fire that killed seven fellow Army Rangers will mark him forever. Jolie sends his protective instincts into overdrive, but he’s convinced he’ll never be worthy of her love.
Hauk is determined to keep Jolie from harm. But when the Order of Ananke ambushes them with a new weapon that neutralizes Hauk, making him vulnerable, it’s Jolie who must tap into her hidden strengths to rescue him—or risk losing him forever…
You can read my review of How Beauty Met the Beast HERE.
Hauk, Jolie, and the rest of the Underlight crew is back! I was eager to read How Beauty Saved the Beast, the second book in the Tales of the Underlight series. This was another fun, quick read. I actually enjoyed this one even more than How Beauty Met the Beast.
The story picks up a couple of months after the first book left off. Jolie has fully joined The Underlight and is learning to kick some serious ass. And Hauk is enjoying every minute of having their hands all over each other, getting hot and sweaty. In the gym, that is. When he’s teaching her to fight. Get your mind out of the gutter! Besides, they are only friends, right? Right…? That’s what they tell themselves, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to get hot and sweaty in other ways. There isn’t any sexy time in HBStB, but there is some nice kissing and sexual tension.
Jolie is funnier and sassier than ever in HBStB. I loved the teasing and banter between Jolie and Hauk. Hauk is still ugly. Sorry, but he is. In fact, I was even more squeamish about how his looks were described in this book than I was with the first one. Yet, I fell for him even more. He’s such a sweetie! Unless you threaten those he cares about. Especially Jolie. It was so funny how she would react to his “rages” even though he was scary as hell. But when Ashley, Hauk’s perfectly perky ex-girlfriend shows up, Jolie is not a happy camper.
The story is very much about Hauk and Jolie’s relationship. They are the focus, but there is more going on than just their lusty shenanigans. The Order of Ananke are still after Hauk, and they’re stepping up their game. They may have actually found a way to capture him this time. Turns out Hauk isn’t as invincible as The Underlight thought, and that puts them all in danger. Plus, no one is prepared for what they discover about what really happened to Hauk’s Army squadron while in Afghanistan.
How Beauty Saved the Beast is sweet, sexy, and fun. And I love how the author incorporated mythology into the story. I am definitely looking forward to the next book, How Beauty Loved the Beast.
I think I would enjoy the heck out of this series..but have promised myself no new purchases until after March 🙂
Jolie sounds great being all funny and sassy. And their relationship sounds hot and great to read about.
Jolie and Hauk’s relationship sound like the fun sort to watch unfold. I love a bit of banter and sexual tension and this sounds perfect in that regard. Lovely review, Christy! I’m glad you enjoyed this. 🙂
I have yet to read the the first book, but I really want to as I love fairytale re-tellings! My fave re-telling of Beauty and the Beast is Beastly by Alex Flinn. Good to know that you enjoyed the sequel!
Ooh, I love mythology and sassy characters are always grand 🙂 great review!
Well lame..no sexy time in this one… what I am going to do for my gratuitous sex fix, now? I bought book one when it came out and guess what I haven’t read it, are you surprised?
Well, I got a new kindle after my old one died (most of the way) and when I turned it on and it loaded I got a gander at the millions of books I have loaded onto it and not read. How Beauty Met the Beast was one of those books I think I got based on your review and then forgot about it. So I’m glad this was even better! I’m going to read it soon (you know, within the next 5-10 years… no longer than 15, I promise!).
Great review… Jolie and Hauk sounds like are a great couple to read about. 🙂
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
Well that settles it, I think I would love this series! It sounds fun and I admit, I love good sexual tension in books, even more so than the actual “stuff’ (so take that Heidi!). 😛
WHAT? I do some of my best thinking in the gutter! 😛 So Hauk is an ugly dude? He’s got some nice abs (not that Carina covers are always accurate). I’ll have to check this series out, it looks like one I’d enjoy a lot. Great review!
Yay — your blog is fixed. and I love fairy tale retellings so will have to put this on my list 🙂