The Beast: Scarred. Damaged. Living with a terrible secret. Agent of the Underlight Wesley “Hauk” Haukon has nothing left but the fight for liberty against the oppressive Order of Ananke. He’s starting to lose hope…and then he sees her.
The Beauty: Despite her night job as a burlesque dancer, Grad student Jolie Benoit has always played the mostly good girl. That all changes following a scorching sexual encounter with a stranger whose face she doesn’t see. After she’s kidnapped by thugs, and rescued by a man with a familiar voice, Jolie becomes a pawn in a struggle she never knew existed.
Hauk knows he cannot have her, and resolves to protect his heart and his secrets. But as they work together and grow closer, he finds a new reason to keep fighting. Dare he risk hope in a new life, one where Jolie can see past his ravaged face and where their friendship can grow into something more? From the Jax Garren Website.
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Series: Number one in the Tales of the Underlight Series
Cover: Interesting, not a true portrayal of the characters
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Urban Fantasy.
Pages/Words: 104/38,000
POV: Third Person shared between the main characters.
Setting: America
Language: Moderate-Severe profanity & blasphemy
Sexual Content Rating: M
Gore and Violence Rating: G
Publisher: Carina Press (November 2012)
My thoughts: First off, I didn't realise this story was so short. Like I said, I usually pick books by their covers or titles. Shallow it may be but I like to think it keeps things interesting and mysterious. When I did realise that it was a few eggs short of a basket, it didn't really bother me. The story was an easy, relaxing read so it being short and sweet was fine. That is until I turned a page and was looking at the promotion for the next book in the series.
The story ended without much happening. Instead of feeling like I had read the first instalment in the series, it was like I had just finished the first half of the book! Honestly I don't mind short stories, novellas etc. But this left me wanting more in a bad way. Basically, I didn't get my full course meal.
As for the story and characters, well nothing special. Only thing I have to say really is that there were a few times they did things out of character.
If I had to describe the book as a whole, the word would probably be 'cruisy' or 'laid back'. You didn't have to think with this one. To sum, it was 'junk food'; a quick fix without any real substance.
The story would have been better if the second instalment was included in the first book. That way readers would have had the chance to form attachments and become invested and interested in the characters. Also, it would make the book feel complete.
To those who would still like to give the book a go, my advice would be to purchase the whole series; might get a descent read that way.
Cover image from goodreads