Published: May 30, 2011
Words: 142,742 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458051561

Short description

Set during America's Gilded Age, A Bed of Thorns and Roses offers a new take on the classic theme of Beauty and the Beast, following in the tradition of such well-loved authors as Elizabeth Hoyt, Mary Balogh and Loretta Chase. This bittersweet story takes the reader on a memorable journey where lives and hearts once thought irredeemably scarred are transformed by the healing power of love.

Extended description

“I may be a monster, Miss Tate, but I am not a beast.”

His new secretary looked unconvinced. How could he blame her? His mask had her trembling like a frightened rabbit. Yet what lay beneath was far worse. The sight of his face had already killed one young woman.

He well understood Miss Tate’s fear. If only she understood his. Because as disturbing as she found his gruesome appearance, he was far more terrified of her beauty. (Read more) “I may be a monster, Miss Tate, but I am not a beast.”

His new secretary looked unconvinced. How could he blame her? His mask had her trembling like a frightened rabbit. Yet what lay beneath was far worse. The sight of his face had already killed one young woman.

He well understood Miss Tate’s fear. If only she understood his. Because as disturbing as she found his gruesome appearance, he was far more terrified of her beauty.
* * *
Heir to a wealthy robber baron, Jonathan Nashe had every advantage money could buy until a tragic fire left him horribly disfigured. Now he lives secluded in his isolated country mansion, his scientific research his only solace. When declining health threatens to rob him of even this small comfort, Jonathan is forced to choose between his work and his privacy. Reluctantly, he hires a secretary. Though distasteful, sacrificing his privacy soon proves the least of his concerns; he never expected to sacrifice his heart as well.

But Isabelle Tate guards the secrets of her past as vigilantly as Jonathan hides the scars beneath his mask. Can they confess their growing love for one another knowing that to bare their deepest feelings, they must also bare their deepest shame?
* * *
Set during America's Gilded Age, A Bed of Thorns and Roses offers a new take on the classic theme of Beauty and the Beast, following in the tradition of such well-loved authors as Elizabeth Hoyt, Mary Balogh and Loretta Chase. Bittersweet yet uplifting, the story of Jonathan and Isabelle takes the reader on a memorable journey where lives and hearts once thought irredeemably scarred are transformed by the healing power of love.
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Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

gilded age, historical romance, rape victim, beauty and the beast, historical 1800s, burn victim, tortured hero

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Reviews

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Review by: Sharon E. Cathcart on Sep. 07, 2012 :
Having written my own novel based in the Cupid and Psyche vein, I've truly come to appreciate a romance novel that breaks the typical "perfectly handsome hero/heroine" mold. Sondra Allan Carr does exactly that.

Jonathan, her hero, is damaged not only physically but emotionally. Her heroine, Isabelle's scars are invisible, but they affect her nonetheless. She has grown up in what she thinks of as genteel poverty; Jonathan is surrounded by wealth of which he wants no part.

The two are brought together by Dr. Garrick, Jonathan's physician, as Jonathan is in need of a secretary and Isabelle is in need of money to help support her younger sister.

Set in the Gilded Age on the US Eastern Seaboard, the book is rife with period details that put the reader right into the setting with the characters. The prose is rich, with an elegant vocabulary that delighted me.

This is no cookie-cutter romance tale; highly recommended for those who prefer their heroes less than perfect and their heroines intelligent.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: baychriz on Oct. 01, 2011 :
This historical romance brings all our favourite elements of a love story together – two emotionally scarred characters trying to find peace in each other's arms. Sondra Allan Carr just overwhelms with her sensitivity in this love-against-the-odds novel.

Jonathan Nashe is heir to a huge fortune but after a tragic fire leaves him terribly disfigured, he refuses to let anyone see him. He lives, sheltered away from prying eyes, in his country mansion where he does some research to keep his mind and time occupied. Isabella Tate was the victim of a brutal rape and the ongoing physical and mental abuse of her father. To give her sister the opportunity of a better life, she agrees to be secretary to Jonathan for one year. Will these two people be able to put the past behind them and build a new life together or will their heartache keep them apart forever?

Isabelle was an easy character to love. She always seemed to put her sister's happiness above her own, trying to give her a better life than she had. This endeared me to her. She is hired as a secretary for the elusive Jonathan Nashe and from the beginning, it is a difficult relationship both professionally and personally.

I will admit that I have a soft spot for a tortured hero and Jonathan made me just want to put my arms around him and never let go. He is the perfect "beast" character – scarred both physically and mentally. He just could not fathom the idea that anyone could tolerate his presence, never mind love him! I was so happy the first time he came out of his room!

Together, Isabelle and Jonathan start to help each other out of their comfort zones and they start living for the first time. At first it is just little Sunday morning strolls which then develops into evenings in the library.

They have led such utter miserable lives and have experienced only hardship and pain, that as their love story slowly develops, we cannot help but wish them only happiness. Unfortunately the path to happiness is never easy and there are lots of misunderstandings. This was the only negative point for me. I felt that some of the misunderstandings could have been resolved immediately and that they got drawn out a bit too much.

The subplot between Isabella's young sister and the doctor-friend of Jonathan was a fun addition to the book. I loved their relationship so much that I would have loved them to have had a book of their own.

This is the ultimate "Beauty and the Beast" story. True love comes in all forms and is strong enough to wipe away even the worst of our pasts. That is the message of this book and I could not agree more.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Puddy Tat on Aug. 31, 2011 :
This book is a delight, a real page turner with suspense on both physical and emotional levels. True to the romance genre, but much richer than usual. Literary references give the book resonance, while the psychological concerns it’s dealing with give it depth. But it's the plot and character development that give it life. After I’d finished the book, I found myself recalling scenes and sensations that were drawing me back as if it were a real place I'd visited and would like to return to. Some of the physical locations become very real, but most tangible is the relationship between the characters, which almost becomes a place in itself - a place of sensuality and great sensitivity.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: dustbunnies on Aug. 15, 2011 :
This novel is a gem. It has been carefully edited – I didn't notice any errors in the epub version. The love between the lead characters develops slowly enough to be believable. The characters have intelligent conversations and interactions. There are convincing impediments to the characters' developing relationship. I really liked the hero and heroine. Beyond that, this author simply does a wonderful job of conveying romance and longing. This is a story that I will reread in the future.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: leelee33 on Aug. 09, 2011 :
So glad I moved this to the front of my reading list. I have not read a good romance like this in a long time. I was surprised at how fast it was to read. I love these characters. This is a very moving story. Five stars for sure.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: charlie400 on June 19, 2011 :
I loved this book! It kept me interested from the very beginning, and the ending was perfect!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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