Taming the Beast

by Amy J. Fetzer

Taming The Beast by Amy J. Fetzer released on Mar 25, 2001 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373763611
• ISBN13: 9780373763610
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Silhouette Books
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Myshelf.Com Book Reviewer

Richard Blackthorne is a bitter, desolate man who has locked himself away from the world in a dreary tower he calls home. His chiseled features are scarred, as a result of performing a heroic deed four years ago. Upon his former wife's death, he is shocked to learn he has a four year old daughter. Knowing his hideous disfigurement will prevent him from providing the close loving care his daughter will require he reluctantly decides to hire a nanny. He never dreamed the nanny would come in the form of a green-eyed goddess, Laura Cambridge.Former beauty queen Laura Cambridge is seeking escape from a broken heart. She accepts a nanny position to serve Richard Blackthorne's lonely daughter. Richard is rumored to be a hulking recluse, but instead she finds a man of passion, mystery, and intrigue. Will she be able to convince him that his scars are badges of courage? Will her love be enough to set his tortured soul free - the beast rescued by the beauty and rewarded with her heart?Amy J. Fetzer does an exquisite job in creating this enchanting novel. Laura and Richard each compliment one another because they both fully understand beauty is only skin deep. In the fashion of the much loved 'Jane Eyre' readers will discover an emotional modern day 'Beauty and the Beast' tale. So memorizing unforgettable it will leave you craving for more.

This one has sizzled!

This one was an emotional keeper.Richard Blackthorne is a man tormented - not only by his scarred body but also by the rejection at the hands of his late wife. The absolute fear that Richard has in being rejected by his daughter is so real that you can feel it vibrating off the page.When Richard finds out that his ex-wife has died, he gets custody of his daughter. To smoothe the transition, he hires Laura as a nanny.Laura and Richard never meet face to face in full daylight until well after they've already fallen for each other. They share these conversations where Richard is forever in the shadows, hiding.Laura's unconditional response to Richard reminds him that he is simply a man. No more, no less - but he still lacks the courage to face his daughter. So, he begins to talk to his daughter from the shadows, too. He finally reveals himself to Laura and the words and emotions were poignant and sweet. But he still is afraid of his daughter's rejection - he knows that one could wound beyond all others.Finally, his daughter sees him by accident and handles things by herself.What I loved about this book was how much Richard loved his daughter. And in the end, Laura didn't "fix" their relationship. It just kinda happened in its own beautiful way.This was definitly a "read it in one night" kind of book, so don't start it too late in the afternoon!

Beautifully told beauty and the beast tale - with Sizzle!

I just finished, in the wee hours of the morning, a book I really enjoyed, TAMING THE BEAST by Amy J. Fetzer (Silhouette Desire - April 2001). It's a true Beauty and the Beast tale, complete with the "beast" living in a large, castle-like mansion. The story deals with Richard Blackthorne who has been horribly disfigured in an accident who has just found out he has a four-year-old daughter (after the death of his ex-wife). He hires a nanny (Laura) for his daughter who happens to be a former beauty queen who knows what it's like to be judged on her looks. Amy J. Fetzer has done a beautiful job retelling this tale and I highly recommend the story. She builds the sexual tension up and, without describing the hero until towards the end of the book, lends a bit of mystery to the mix as well. The scenes where Richard goes to his daughter's room in the middle of the night so she can't see his face, are so tender. Fetzer handles the character of the young Kelly well, also, never having her overtake the real story -- the relationship between Richard and Laura.

A contemporary Beauty & the Beast

This is a MUST READ book. I enjoyed it from the very first page to the last. In fact, I didn't want it to end. Entrepreneur Richard Blackthorne had everything. A wife, popularity amongst his peers and above all, he possessed a flawless handsomeness women found impossible to resist. All of that changes when he selflessly tries to rescue a pregnant epileptic woman from an oncoming train. His act of heroism changes his life forever.Unable to gaze upon his ravaged face, his wife cruelly leaves him. Her rejection wounds him terribly. Unwilling to go through that pain again, to have people stare at him as if he were some kind of freak, he willingly retreats from society. Only the knowledge of his ex-wife's death stirs him from his lair. For he learns that he has a child . . . . Sight unseen, Laura Cambridge is hired as a nanny to care for his secret child. Richard does not know that Laura is a former beauty queen. She is a green eyed goddess whom he cannot ignore. Her exquisite beauty effortlessly attracts him making him long to step into the light and leave the shadows behind. She makes him long for things he now believes are impossible to obtain. Such as warmth and love . . .His heart is as painfully scarred as his face. He is afraid to have Laura and his daughter view his disfigurement, to see their revulsion. He is so afraid to trust and determindely keeps to the shadows. This, of course, drives Laura crazy. She is falling in love with this tormented man and is determinded to free him from his painful past. She does everything she can to overcome his fear, to reassure him that she will not turn away from his ravaged face in revulsion. Still, Richard cannot take the risk.Laura's beauty queen past has taught her some painful lessons, also. The person inside each of us doesn't always match the face. Slowly she proves this to Richard. Her wit (And she is funny!), kindness and love draw Richard out of the shadows. As she gazes upon his scarred face, he realizes that in her eyes, he has never been a beast. The beauty and purity of her love has rescued him, setting his painful past free and enabling him to obtain the happiness which has long been denied to him.An excellant read!!

Taming the Beast

I was very surprised by this book. It was my first Sillouette Desire and my first book by Amy J. Fetzer. The story continues with the Wife for Hire theme, and has Laura Cambridge hired to work as a nanny for the elusive, scarred Blackthorne. This story reminded me of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and Jane Eyre. It sizzled off the page and was touching at the right moments without being too 'corny', as some novels tend to be. This proved to be an excellent read, and I ended up staying up til 3 am to finish it. I highly recommend it.