The Borrowed Rose: Beauty and the Beast Book Recommendations and Retellings

A great resource for those with a passion for fairy tale retellings?  Kindle Unlimited .  I found I was spending $3-5 for many of the quick reads I enjoy and most of them were Kindle Unlimited offerings.  The $10/month investment in Kindle Unlimited has been a savvy savings for us, as the hubs has made great use of it, too.  We both consume books at a fast clip, and most of the Unlimited books are self-published, affordable, quick reads, making it a good value for us.  A majority of the books I read for book club or catching up on my ever-growing wish list are not included on Unlimited, but that's ok.  When perusing a quick weekend paranormal mind-melt, it's a good bet. Currently, two of the books on the list below are included with  Kindle Unlimited . New Beauty and the Beast discoveries   Hunting the Beast:  A Beauty and the Beast Fairy Tale Retelling (Fairy Tales with a Bite Book 1)  by Anna Santos & May Freighter - ...

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fantasy (sci fi + fantasy - I see what they did there) inspired by the Victorian era and steam-powered technologies.  It features alternative futures and innovations.  I enjoy poking around in the steampunk world, and quickly get sucked into the steampunk vortex, with it's rich culture in fashion, literature, movies, music and more.  Wikipedia has a thorough article here on all things steampunk if you, too, desire to travel the vortex. Art by nahp75 on Deviant Art Beauty & the Beast has not escaped the steampunk filter.  Here are three to add to your TBR list today: Firelight (Darkest London Book 1) by Kristen Callihan - loosely BATB where the Belle character hides a supernatural secret and the masked Beast character who hides a mysterious past has been trolling her for some time Beauty & Beastly: Steampunk Beauty and the Beast (Steampunk Fairytales Book 3) by Melanie Karsak - sweet story playing heavily on the...

I've realized that I have a tendency to read in themed phases.  Do you do that, too? Sometimes I'm all about finding a fun, modern fantasy.  Sometimes I'm eager for the classics.  Sometimes it's one Beauty and the Beast fan fiction pick after another.  Other times, I'm looking for a quick and dirty read with good character development.  And I always have a business or non-fiction book, I'm working through.  I find that I'm discerning about solid writing, but I don't have a go-to genre.  And variety is good, right?   Have you noticed a trend in your book choices?   Beauty and the Beast will always be a feature in my reading list, and I have a TBR list when Beauty and her Beast call. Three Beauty and the Beast Tales to Add to Your TBR List To Love a Monster   by Marina Simcoe -  Contemporary, adult romance set in Canada.  Beauty gets friendly with Beast while he's a beast, which is... interesting. Hea...

I made an interesting discovery the other day. I was making the acquaintance of Geralt of Rivia, the Witcher, in  The Last Wish   by Andrzej Sapkowski .  A delightful, tough, magical kinda dude.  I enjoyed the format of the book and getting to know the characters as the short stories unfolded into a broader tale. About three shorts in I was delightfully surprised to discover that Mr. Sapkowski enjoys fairy tales, and wove my fave into the story.   The Witcher Meets Beauty and the Beast in "Grain of Truth" In one of Geralts' adventures, "Grain of Truth," he is meandering through a forest and encounters the remains of two unfortunate souls.  One is a woman with a rose pinned to her dress.  He meanders further down the path and encounters a dilapidated castle.  Upon entering the courtyard he is accosted by the Beast, also called Nivellen.  Nivellen is a jovial fellow, and after a ferocious display where he fails to frighten the Witche...

After reading the fully loaded original version of Beauty and the Beast by Madame Barbot de Villeneuve , the shortened version by Madame LePrince de Beaumont is lack luster.  Sorry, fellow fans, but it just kinda is.  It establishes the important basics that make up the elements of consistent BATB tales, but there's not much drama, conflict or interest to draw you in. Let me restate that I am not a literary critic, reviewer or smart in literary analysis in any way.  Just to be clear.  The comments that follow are those of a girl who loves to read and who loves to read  Beauty & the Beast  tales. Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont, 1711 - 1780 Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont was a French author, living in the 1700s.  She wrote her version of  La Belle et La Bête as a magasin - an instructional handbook for parents and teachers.  It appeared in Le Magasin des Enfants in 1756.  She was quite the writer, producing upwards ...

There are so many great options to celebrate your Valentine favorite Beauty and the Beast style.  Whether you have a honey(s) or are celebrating Galentine's, check out  these  Beauty and the Beast  Valentine ideas! Pic by Monstera via Pexels You could go the traditional route with paper valentine cards: Patty at My No Guilt Life rounded up a few printable cards that are pretty cute. I really like the free printable "I love you more than Beauty loves the Beast" by Liz at Liz on Call . Or what about rose cookies? Buy a box of fancy sugar cookies with rose icing from  SugarBuilt  cookies Make your own lovely dozen following a DIY tutorial, like those from  The DIY Foodie SugarBuilt cookies I have a few ideas for you on The Borrowed Rose's Pinterest pages.  Check  here  for a growing list of Valentines & Printables.  And  here  for Craft & Party ideas.   Wishing you a wonderful Valentine's Day....

Three new  Beauty and the Beast books in this Book Report: The Bride & the Beast by Theresa Medeiros - re-read this one.  It's a standard, sweet romantic retelling. Blind Beast Mate by Milana Jacks - super racy, quick read. Scales by Alydia Rackham - young adult fairy-tale retelling.  Really enjoyed how the author changed up the character roles and used the original elements of roses, an enchanted castle and the good + bad fairies (refer to my post on the original BATB story  to catch the references).  Scales  is a great choice for all ages. ♥ I'd love to know what Beauty and the Beast retellings you are reading.  Any to add to the fan fiction list? A note on reviews , and why you won't find many here. Note:  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your purchases through my site help cover website maintenance fees.  Thank you for your support!

Thanks to the friend I had dinner with a few weeks ago for the super cute Disney-style Beauty and the Beast gift bag and bottle of Storyteller wine.  I love the thoughtfulness of the themed wine to go with a one-of-kind wrapping.  I'll have to gift another themed wine back.  Cheers to you, Friend!

Fans of the most excellent 1987 CBS TV show Beauty & the Beast know what an auspicious day this is. Happy Birthday, Vincent! Today is Vincent's birthday!  BATB fanatics unite on January 12! Now Friends, I did not create this picture.  It's care of Pinterest, and I wasn't able to find an artist to attribute credit.  But I am wildly amused that one exists! CBS' Beauty & the Beast show was one of the first shows I just had to watch as a geeky young lady (the affliction began early), and I would schedule around a busy (not so much) middle school social calendar.  I loved Vincent's quiet nobility and the hopeless attraction between Catherine & Vincent.  Which ended up being not so hopeless, if you catch my drift.  It was steampunk before steampunk was a thing.  It was fantasy television when it wasn't cool (except for Land of the Lost which every kid should have watched on principle alone #survivalskills).  For two legit years...

I have had a revelation.  The Phantom of the Opera is creepy, and disturbing on so many levels.  That bothers me.  But what bothers me more is that I still really love it.  #sorrynotsorry I love the desperate, creepy obsession the Phantom bears for Christine.  I love Christine's struggle with her adoration and draw to the Phantom.  I really love the haunting music that sets my soul to shivering.  I love the costumes and creative sets and the golden, filigreed ornamentation of well, everything.  While I hadn't connected the two until I began blogging about Beauty and her Beast (yes, I can be slow), I realized that Phantom is an over-the-top, wonderfully gothic, tragic Beauty and the Beast .  And Stockholm syndrome discussions aside, I. love. it. Quentin Oliver Lee is a terrific (and quite tall) Phantom + Emma Grimsley as Christine (in our production) My Bestie invited me to see the latest American Phantom tour on its stop in our neck...

I am not a literary critic, reviewer or smart in literary analysis in any such way.  Just to be clear.  I love to read, and I love to read Beauty and the Beast tales - in the case you haven't read previous posts.  While this project has increased my interest in literary analysis and I'm learning it can be a bottomless hole on the interwebs, for now, I'm keeping posts simple for us plain folk.  However, I have found a few analyses and reviews that I respect and will reference them for your edification. The OG Beauty and the Beast Reflections on the original - La Belle et La Bête by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de   Villeneuve , written 1740: Barbot de Villeneuve, author of the original Beauty and the Beast Did you know that Beauty is the daughter of a fairy!?! And the Prince's cousin!!  /ewww Monkeys, parrots and birds attend Beauty while at the enchanted castle. The Beast woos Beauty in her dreams, as her "Beloved Unknown."  She doesn't fall...