Bookworm and the Beast

Eastport Bay Billionaires, Book 1

By: Tru Taylor

Narrated by: Laney Scott, Roman Strong

I've been sent into the lair of the beast....

It should be a dream assignment—leave my boring day-to-day routine and travel to a seaside mansion to interview superstar author Jack R. R. Bestia. Who wouldn’t want that?

Me, that’s who.

He has a reputation for being reclusive and temperamental, but that’s not why I’m leery of the assignment. It’s because the first (and last) time I met Jack…well, let’s just say I didn’t make a good impression.

When I get to the mansion—which is more like a secluded castle—things don’t go much better. I’m sure he’s going to throw me out entirely. The only way I manage to squeak in is by signing a massive nondisclosure agreement. And I soon figure out why.

Jack has a secret—and it’s a big one.

Now that ironclad contract I signed means I have to stay here until his long-overdue book is finished—and he’s not going to make it easy.

Jack acts every bit as beastly as the tabloids claimed, and I feel like a fairytale princess trapped in his tower. But every once in a while I get a glimpse of the charming (not to mention super sexy) man beneath the growly exterior and I wonder...could this beast be tamed?

Bookworm and the Beast is a full-length hot romantic comedy take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. It's a stand-alone enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, slow-burn billionaire romance with no cheating or cliff-hangers, but plenty of humor and heart.

©2021 Tru Taylor (P)2022 Tru Taylor

Wonderfully Captivating & Delightful! Great🎧📚🎧

Tru Taylor pens another fabulously delightful romantic comedy set in her “Eastport Bay Billionaires” series, a series of standalone novels, each book features different lead characters that may have connections with others in the series but everything you need to know about them in the descriptive details so you will never feel lost or that you missed something. Another connection is that each book is fairytale inspired, and “A Beauty and the Beast” inspired this one. This book grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it the entire time, the characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too. I adored the lead characters, Bonnie Hamelin and Jack R.R. Bestia even when he was at his grumpiest and I loved their first interaction, Jack’s book signing, Bonnie fan girling, it was a great scene, a memorable one for both but in different ways. Bonnie, an aspiring author, put her dream to write her own book aside while working for the Daily Report and helping to care for her Dad. When her boss offers her an assignment of a lifetime, an exclusive interview with an author who rarely does them, Jack R.R. Bestia, she was reluctant to take the assignment, afraid he would remember her from their awkward encounter at his book signing two years earlier. Jack does not do interviews and is not happy about having to do this one, he has had a rough year and is struggling, which is not something he wants to share with his fans or his publisher. He does not plan on spending too much time with her, but he did not plan for the whole interview to go south. Bonnie noticed how much Jack had changed from the first time she met him, he is more of a beast and acts like one too. He infuriated her, but then he turns around and does the right thing, until he doesn’t. I loved how everything played out in this cleverly plotted story, it has a perfect balance of drama, angst, humor, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn but oh so worth the wait romance. Tru Taylor, thank you for another fabulously delightful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Laney Scott and Roman Strong had a complete understanding of the characters they were portraying, gave each a voice that suited that character’s persona and was believable in every role they played. Laney Scott nailed it as Bonnie grasped every side of her personality and Roman Strong did the same for Jack, grumpiness and all. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into their performance and had you feeling every single one. These entertaining storytellers were a pleasure to listen to and their narration enhanced an already amazing story to another level. Thank you for this great listen.

Bonnie is Eager to Meet Her favorite author Jack.

This is sometimes what I wonder how authors would get inspiration from. I loved listening to this while working. I had to stop this to focus a couple of times on work. Truly, these voice actors brought the characters to life. Sometime you just need a little rom.com to get love back in the air..

Sweet and Enchanting Romcom!

This was a fun reimagining of a classic fairy tale. Jack & Bonnie's story is sweet, and romantic, with the perfect mix of humor, heart, and heat! Jack is a famous author that Bonnie has always looked up to. Things did not go well the first time they met. Now a couple years later Bonnie has the chance to interview him at his home, and they still did not go well at first. With an intervention from Jack's servants, Bonnie signs a contract to stay with him until he finishes his long anticipated book. They have instant attraction and their slow burn sexual tension is electric. Jack has been betrayed before, so he is cautious at first around Bonnie. But the more time they spend together, the more they both open their hearts to each other. They are so fun and adorable together and Jack is so swoony as he romances her. But when Jack's past makes an appearance, old wounds open up, and Jack's insecurity pushes Bonnie away, breaking her heart. Will he be able to convince Bonnie he is not that Beast anymore but her forever prince? This was such a sweet, emotional, and steamy romance. Bonnie and Jack were so perfect together. I loved how much fun they had together, supported and made each other stronger.
Laney Scott, and Roman Strong did a great job bringing this enchanting story to life. I loved how they nailed these characters so perfectly, making them their own. I was completely lost in their performance as they made me feel all the complex emotions both Bonnie and Jack felt, making this fun, emotional, heartwarming, and steamy romance even better!

So much fun!!

Great book!! Very cute and sweet with just a little spice. Also, the narration was really good!

modern fairytale

I don't seek out fairytale retelling, but I did enjoy this story. jack was a little tough there in the middle/end ish, but he was the beast after all. I enjoyed the female narrator more than the male. I would rather have had her do the whole book. not that he was bad, but he spoke in almost a raspy whisper, so the volume didn't match with the female chapters, he was much harder to hear. I wasn't crazy about his female voice either. but the male part, and the non dialoge narration was done well

Sweet and fun romcom fairytale retelling!

A fairytale retelling with a romcom twist! Tru Taylor delivers the delightfully fun and unlikely romance between Bonnie and Jack. He is a famous bestselling author and she is the fan he briefly met at signing that ended with her in teasers and him covered in her coffee. These two were just so freaking adorable and fun. Bonnie was just the cutest and as a fellow clumsy bookworm who adores her favorite author, I could totally relate. Jack was everything I love in a grumpy hero. Together these two were beyond fun, entertaining, and front heir hilariously awful meet cute they had me rooting for them to get to their happily ever after. Lovers of cute romcoms, this is for you!

Laney Scott and Roman Strong narrate. It was my first time listening to both and I really enjoyed them. Roman was the perfect surly Jack while Laney brought out all of Bonnie’s endearing qualities. Loved!

Lovely feel good story!

Lovely feel good story! I absolutely adored listening to this! It is told along the line of the Beauty and the Beast. I loved all the little references to that book/show throughout this book. The growls and beastly actions from Jack and Bonnie’s love of books! Make this a gem! I LOVE her babbling! That really connected me to her! I could see myself doing that around someone like Jack. Their first meeting…Whoo whee! I about died! How embarrassing! This flows along the lines of an enemies to lovers and I enjoyed every second of their bickering and banter!

I did listen to this on audio. Laney Scott and Roman Strong (who is new to me) did a great job bringing these characters to life. We do get a sneak peek into the next story with a fairy tale twist. I am very excited!

Couldn't finish story

I couldn't finish this story. The male narrator's female character voice was terrible. The story had potential, but I couldn't get past the narrator.