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“La Belle
Rose”
A merchant
loses his fortune when his ships are lost at sea. He and
his children must now live in a forest cottage. The
youngest, Beauty, continues to keep up everyone’s spirits
with stories and songs. Beauty longs for the roses she
tended in her father’s garden. She asks her father to bring
back a rose for her after he receives news about one of his
ships. The trip is a lost cause and the merchant faces
hardship until he is taken in and cared for by a mysterious
host—The Beast. The Beast doesn’t make his presence known
until the merchant attempts to take a rose to his daughter.
Of course, Beauty is the “price” for her father’s
transgression.
Ms. Aubrey
gives passionate nights to innocent Beauty and the Beast who
gently seduces her. “La Belle Rose” teases the imagination
and boils hot enough to blow a furnace. The use of the rose
adds sensuous, sweet eroticism to the story.
“The Briar
Rose”
A king and
his fairy queen wife suffer the consequences of their love
at the baptismal of their only child, Princess Aurora. The
princess is cursed to die on her 17th birthday by
the queen’s distant evil fairy aunt. Aurora is protected
from the truth and pledges her heart to Prince Philippe
whose kingdom becomes immersed in a long war. Sadly,
neither Aurora nor her prince can escape their fate.
Sometimes
we pay the price for the choices of others, deserved or
not. Outside forces intrude into our lives, smothering
happiness for a season. Although this story follows the
elements of Sleeping Beauty, it carries the shadow of war
and loss. It’s important to hold on to love and its promise
throughout the years and use this to bolster perseverance
and hope.
“Eleanor of
the Roses”
A wealthy
noble suffers the loss of his young wife. He is left to
raise his only child, Eleanor, alone. Years later, he
marries a prosperous widow with two daughters. The widow
grows hateful towards her husband because she is resentful
of his deceased wife and love for Eleanor. After he dies,
the stepmother and her daughters start abusing
Eleanor/Ella. Eleanor endures and vows to never marry. She
does not want to become like her stepmother. By chance she
meets Prince Raphael. Everything comes full circle when
Eleanor is forced to go to the ball where the prince will
choose his bride from the eligible noblewomen.
“Eleanor of
the Roses” demonstrates the power of love, memories and
forgiveness. Eleanor is rewarded for her loss and
strength, despite the fact that her stepmother tried to
diminish her in name and existence. Prince Raphael is as
romantic as he is amorous, and the love scenes are some of
the hottest in the anthology.
“The
Woodsman’s Daughter”
Manon’s
mother vanishes into the woods. She is raised by her
devoted father who wants her to marry a rich man. When her
future groom, Angelus, appears, Manon is attracted to but
unnerved by him. He ignites her passion once she accepts
his proposal, and invites her to visit him. Manon accepts
and learns what happened to her mother as well as the truth
about her future husband.
“The
Woodsman’s Daughter” was the darkest and edgiest. It was a
mix of Red Riding Hood and The Robber Bridegroom. For each
story, the heroine is strong and assertive, yet Manon
surpasses them all. She is not easily deceived and takes
the initiative. Still, Angelus is wolfishly sexy, totally
masculine and heats up the pages. Surprisingly, it’s Manon
that carries everyone over the threshold to HEA.
First
Night: Four Fairy Tales Retold offers a delicious
perspective to fairy tales never intended for children. Ms.
Aubrey serves up a lusty helping of courageous women and
fascinating men who understand intimacy, love and loyalty.
It was a nice opportunity to revisit stories sparkling with
Ms. Aubrey’s fresh characters and steamy visuals.
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