Review: Curse of the Beast by Ashley Lavering

Title: Curse of the Beast
Author: Ashley Lavering
Publisher: Silvermist Publishing LLC 
Publication: May 1st, 2012
Format: ebook
Pages: 260

Synopsis  

A dark shadow stalks the night, watching her—waiting to claim what is his.

Seventeen-year-old Tayla Jonas longs for a simple life, but after a traumatizing family loss, she is forced to be both mother and sister to her cousins while caring for her mentally unstable aunt. Moving to her grandma’s quiet town of Cody, Wyoming, Tayla finds some normalcy with her quirky green activist friend, Chel, who spends no time converting her to vegetarianism.

A few weeks into her new school, Tayla catches the eye of Kyle Harrington—the high school quarterback and resident millionaire—who can seduce any girl with his charismatic charm, including Tayla. But Kyle is anything but what he seems.

Walking through City Park, Tayla is unaware that an ancient curse has her in its crosshairs. The silver moonlight illuminates the path to her van, sprinkling shadows like evil twinkling eyes. Tayla’s skin prickles, and she turns. Something—or someone—is watching her.

A powerful werewolf steps from the shadows. An iridescent blue cord shoots from him and slams into her stomach, dissolving instantly. Pain wracks her body, and she tries to scramble to safety, but his silver eyes freeze her in place as the curse binds them together. The cord settles deep inside her body, coiling with dread around her heart.

Dismayed by the prospect of a werewolf for a shadow, Tayla fears for the safety of her friends and family. How will she keep the werewolf’s insatiable hunger in check? Her plans for a vegetarian lifestyle quickly dwindle away, and Tayla wrestles to fit her frazzled life back together—piece by piece. But what she didn’t expect was her attraction to the werewolf or the power of the full moon.

Will Tayla be strong enough to survive the Curse of the Beast? Or will it consume her like so many before? Find out in the first installment of this unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast.


 
My Review

I LOVE fairy tale retellings so I knew I would love this one as well.  Curse of the Beast  was based off of Beauty and the Beast with an added supernatural twist.  Couldn't go wrong there.  I was really surprised by how much I loved this book.  The characters, especially Tayla, were easy to relate to.  I loved how the story story felt so real, because it actually felt like a modern place we could live in.  Curse of the Beast was beautifully written and well thought out.  Once I started this story, I couldn't put it down.  Werewolf stories are my favorite and this one didn't disappoint at all.

Tayla has had a tough life.  She now lives with her aunt and has to care for her cousins.  She also caught the attention of high school jock, Kyle.  At first I was all for this, but then I got to see who he really is.  I hated Kyle.  He was so full of himself.  Not only did Kyle want her, but also the Beast.  A blue cord shot into her binding them together for the curse.  The curse would not allow them to be apart so she had to move in with him.  I really adored the Beast.  I loved his humor and how he was around Tayla.

This book had so many twists and turns that it left me on the edge of my seat.  Curse of the Beast left off with a huge cliffhanger that definitely left me wanting more.  I am so glad to get to read the second book right after.  Ashley did a fantastic job on crafting a story that immediately hooks you after the very first page.  I read this book in one sitting becasue I had to know what happened next.  This is a book I will definitely reread. I highly recommend it!!!!