The Beauties and Her Beast

Belle and Desiree on the front cover, scared. Two beast shadows behind them. The title, in pink letters, reads, "Love and Flora: The Beauties and Her Beast by A.J. Hughes. Book One."

Title: The Beauties and Her Beast
Author: A.J. Hughes
Publication Date: 06/19/2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
Paperback ISBN‏ : ‎ 978-0-9998967-4-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9998967-7-8
Item Weight ‏ : ‎12.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.61 x 9 inches

Explore Authors Magazine:

Freddy Holmes is a man who made several mistakes after his wife’s passing. However, this might be his biggest one. After being whisked away to a mysterious world from a certain death during a snowstorm, Freddy takes advantage of his saviors’ kindness by stealing several items for his children. However, it was when he stole several roses from a beautiful rose garden to make a bouquet that he was caught in the act by two fearsome beasts. In a desperate plea to the beasts for mercy, Freddy makes his biggest mistake of all, revealing that he only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter. The two beasts agree to let him go, but only if he brings one of his daughters back to live with them instead, thus sealing her fate.

Family is…complicated. Family will leave you basking in the sunlight one moment and then be shattered on the rocks the next. Isabelle “Belle” Holmes knows this all too well. With an aloof older brother, two horrid older twin sisters, and a broken father. However, when it comes to her older sister, Desiree Holmes, author Isadora James said it best. “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” In an attempt to rescue her sister, Desiree also becomes a captive. With a bond as solid as a diamond, both sisters will have to stick together in a strange world as they encounter two princely beasts and untangle the feelings each causes them in A.J. Hughes’ The Beauties and Her Beast.

Readers may notice that The Beauties and Her Beast shares similarities to French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s fairy tale La Belle et la Bête. However, A.J. Hughes not only puts a modern twist on the 1740 version but also adds her own flare that makes this modernized take unique. One of the biggest changes is that the story has four protagonists that it focuses on. On one side, you have the selfless, compassionate, pure-of-heart youngest daughter of the Holmes family in Isabelle “Belle” Holmes, and in Desiree Holmes, the headstrong, determined, eldest daughter of the Holmes family and most importantly, Belle’s protector. On the opposite side of this love story, you have the hot-headed, rude, fiercely protective, and deeply loyal younger prince in Esmé and the firm but gentle, kind-hearted, respectful yet somber eldest brother, Crown Prince Raoul. The second, and most notable departure from the 1740 by Barbot de Villenueve’s fairytale, is that the beastly princes are not dullards like the Beast in La Belle et la Bête, thus developing Raoul and Esmé into proper characters, allowing them to appropriately establish a bond with Desiree and Belle, respectively, adding a lot more depth to the story as a whole.

The writing is descriptive without becoming overly verbose, the character interactions are solid, and the characters remain internally consistent throughout the story, which is commendable as A.J. Hughes juggles multiple characters throughout the novel. However, the most important aspect of the plot that I would like to shine a light on is the romance. It’s not easy to develop multiple romances that are unique from each another in one story, but A.J. Hughes does an excellent job keeping the romances between the central characters distinct and nuanced, with special mention going to Raoul and Desiree. While Esmé and Belle’s relationship boils down what one might consider “puppy love” between a pair of innocent young teens, Raoul and Desiree’s relationship is where the crux of the story and challenges lie. While Raoul is thoughtful and respectful of Desiree, she is often stand-offish and distrustful. After all, the young ladies are still captives. Despite this, and with much hesitation, the two start to build a rapport. Or do they?

Sadly, this aspect of the novel remains unresolved as the book ends on a cliffhanger with the promise of more in an upcoming sequel, leaving the reader not only wanting more, but anxious for the new release to see how the saga continues. With strong writing, strong characters, and a well-built romance, Romance lovers will enjoy The Beauties and Her Beast and will find it a worthy addition to any physical or digital bookcase. This story gains an enthusiastic recommendation from me. ★★★★★ – Elijah B. (Explore Authors Magazine)

The Beauties and Her Beast (Love and Flora) by A.J. Hughes (Book Review)

 

Readers’ Favorite

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-beauties-and-her-beast

Reviewed by Mary Clarke for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

The Beauties and Her Beast (Love and Flora) by A.J. Hughes follows Belle Holmes, a sixteen-year-old girl who sacrificed herself to save her father, Freddy, after he stole from a magical kingdom ruled by two beastly brothers, Raoul and Esmé. Freddy lost his wealth and medical license after a mistake at work that led to a lawsuit. He ended up in a magical kingdom during a snowstorm, where he stole some items, including roses for Belle. He was caught by a beast named Esmé but was spared when Raoul offered a deal that he would only be let free if one of his daughters agreed to live there in his place. Belle’s journey showed her growing relationship—and possible love—with Esmé and also her relationship with her kind and independent sister, Desiree.

I loved how A.J. Hughes made this magical story feel realistic. The struggle Belle’s family faced, and her resilience and kindness, shone throughout the narrative. Belle is very different from her siblings, and her bond with Desiree was fascinating. Desiree’s love for her sister and her strong will to protect her from the beasts at all costs were really captivating. The character development was good, and their names made the story seem more like a fairy tale. The modern setting and magical kingdom gave it a balanced approach. I loved how Raoul’s and Esmé’s complex personalities were explained in detail. The sudden cliffhanger and Luther’s actions left me excited for the sequel. The Beauties and Her Beast (Love and Flora) covered themes of family, sacrifice, and redemption. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fairy tales with magic, family drama, and modern struggles.

Reviewed by Erick Ramos for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

The Beauties and Her Beast by A.J. Hughes tells the story of Freddy Holmes, who has five children and lost his wife, Angela, to cancer when his last child, Belle, was 11 years old. This loss weighed heavily on him and affected his job as a surgeon. His medical license was revoked, and he was fined $10 million for causing a patient’s death. He lost everything he owned, except for his car, so he moved back to his parents’ house in Meadow Lake, Wisconsin, with his children. Freddy found a job as a receptionist at a clinic with the help of his father, Luther. On his way to Green Bay, WI, he had an accident that he survived, but while trying to get help, he almost died from hypothermia. Freddy then found himself in another world where he found a castle where he sheltered, but gathered a rose bouquet for his daughter, Belle. What would be his fate after stealing from this castle, which was home to two beasts?

In The Beauties and Her Beast by A.J. Hughes, the flow of the book was natural, and I found the author’s writing style to be engaging and unique. The characters were properly introduced and developed. Belle has the best personality; she is very accommodating, kind, and has a great love for her family. I was touched by Belle’s decision and sacrifice to help save her father. Desiree was the character I loved reading about most. She was courageous and hardworking. All the characters had diverse traits, and this helped shape the storyline in an interesting way. I was unable to predict the plot, and this shows the author’s creativity. The book is all about family, sacrifice, and love, and I would recommend it to young adults and readers who love books with a fairytale setting.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

After losing his wife to cancer, Freddy Holmes struggles to maintain his job and keep his family together. Matters escalate when he becomes embroiled in a scandal at the hospital, which results in him losing his job. He relocates his family to Wisconsin, but in searching for a new job, he encounters trouble with some extraordinary individuals. Faced with the choice of finding a replacement or confronting imminent death, his young daughter Isabelle changes places with him. She agrees to stay for a specified period with these characters whose appearances defy logic. Isabelle is unaware that her captivity comes with unusual stipulations, but her headstrong older sister rushes in to initiate a rescue mission before she can uncover them. Expect sparks to fly in A.J. Hughes’s The Beauties and Her Beast.

A.J. Hughes’s stylish fairy tale romance creates a world where castles and mythical creatures coexist with airplanes and mobile phone-crazed teenagers. Hughes explains Freddy Holmes’s predicament clearly and concisely, highlighting the unusual yet believable family dynamics among the children and encouraging readers to empathize with any sibling whose motivations resonate with them. The dialogue reflects world-building, transitioning from modern topics like boys and popularity contests to classic, old-world language, emphasizing the throne’s succession and the kingdom’s stability. The romantic subplots, in which the beastly hosts court Isabelle and her sister, offer entertaining scenarios that romance enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy. Hughes’s unique narrative style in The Beauties and Her Beast presents a refreshingly different take on an old concept that will captivate fans of fantasy, adventure, and romance.