Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback | Audio
Review
4 stars!
Feelings don’t have an expiration date.
Once upon a time the Fortier family was one of the wealthiest in Louisiana. However, when Beau Fortier’s grandfather lost his land, they also lost their status and wealth. Now in his last year at Tulane law school, Beau is fighting to make the Fortier name shine once again.
When he rents an apartment form the Leblanc’s he meets their teenage daughter, Lauren, who can’t stop from crushing on him. However, Beau doesn’t just brush her feelings under the rug because she is young. He is sweet and smart, but he can’t risk anything. He’s determined to make something of himself and can’t pursue a high school student when chasing his dreams.
Years later they meet again. The age difference isn’t a problem now but Lauren isn’t exactly quick to accept Beau’s feelings. Her teenage heart was bruised by rejection and she doesn’t want to feel that loss again. However, Beau is determined more than ever to pursue the connection they still seem to have.
The Beau & the Belle is another R.S. Grey hit! A nice take on a second-chance romance, it’s a fun, entertaining, lovable story that is sure to warm your heart.
I enjoyed seeing Lauren and Beau in the past and then watching how everything changes in the present. Lauren grows more mature and confident than when she was a teen without losing her fun personality, and she is a hoot. I loved getting into her head both when she was younger and when she’s an adult. Her teenage ramblings reminded me so much of what it was like to have a crush on someone in high school. I felt the giddy butterflies and the feelings of first love that don’t just go away because you want them to. Then when Lauren’s an adult and faces Beau again, she realizes what her feelings really mean as they grow and became deeper, and I loved watching her fall in love.
Beau was amazing throughout the entire book. He is such a nice guy and his actions are understandable. He didn’t want to jeopardize his future by pursuing a teenager even when he was attracted to her. He wasn’t creepy at all and the relationship between him and Lauren in the past was believable. They formed a solid friendship and a trust was built even if nothing would come of it at the time.
When Beau sees Lauren again, he doesn’t have to worry about age or where he is in his life. Lauren and Beau are better fitted because they can finally explore the attraction they feel, and I loved them together.
This is how I wanted to be touched all those years ago, and it’s making me lightheaded to feel it now. Maybe it’s better this way. At 27, I can barely handle this feeling. At 17, I’d have gone comatose.
Full of witty banter, palpable sexual tension, and electric chemistry, I couldn’t get enough of these two characters.
“That’s fine. You can keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Playing like you don’t want me to sweep everything off my desk and fulfill 10 years worth of your backlogged wishes.”
Along with the heat, there is a lot of heart in this book. The emotion is real and I loved watching what started in the past bloom into so much more. Lauren never let go of her feelings and it was clear what she wanted but it isn’t until a little later on that we discover exactly how Beau felt. He was sweet and swoony, and he refused to let Lauren get away. He was determined to make her see how good they could be together and I loved that he never backed down.
Overall, The Beau & the Belle was an adorable, heartwarming love story. R.S. Grey is quickly becoming one of my go to rom com authors and I can’t wait to dive into more!