The Beau & the Belle by R.S. Grey Published by Self-Published on February 1, 2018
Pages: 337
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Amazon
Beau Fortier starred in most of my cringe-worthy teenage fantasies.
I met him when I was a junior in high school, a time that revolved exclusively around bad hair, failed forays into flirting, and scientific inquiries into which brand of toilet paper worked best for stuffing bras.
That is, until Beau moved into the small guest house just beyond my bedroom window.
A 24-year-old law student at Tulane, Beau was as mysterious to me as second base (both in baseball and in the bedroom). He was older. Intimidating. Hot. Boys my age had chicken legs and chubby cheeks. Beau had calloused hands and a jaw cut from steel. Our interactions were scarce—mostly involving slight stalking on my end—and yet deep down, I desperately hoped he saw me as more of a potential lover than a lovesick loser.
Turns out, I was fooling myself. My fragile ego learned that lesson the hard way.
Now, ten years later, we’re both back in New Orleans, and guess who suddenly can’t take his eyes off little ol’ me.
My old friend, Mr. Fortier.
But things have changed. I’m older now—poised and confident. My ego wears a bulletproof vest. The butterflies that once filled my stomach have all perished.
When I was a teenager, Beau warned me to guard my heart. Let’s hope he knows how to guard his.
This entertaining story goes out to all the women who had an unrequited crush on an older guy when they were in high school. I include myself in that illustrious group.
17-year-old Lauren has a massive crush on Beau, a law student renting out her parents’ pool house. Obviously, she’s too young for him—jail bait and all—but she’s not yet mature enough to navigate her tidal wave of emotions. As if being socially awkward isn’t enough, Lauren is also a late bloomer. Every moment of embarrassment and frustration she experiences is simultaneously funny and cringe worthy. It’s all very reminiscent of a John Hughes film, and I mean that in a good 16 Candles way.
When they meet up again a decade later, the attraction between them is strong and it’s no longer pervy for Beau to pursue Lauren. It’s a little silly that Lauren could hold a grudge against him for so long, but I really enjoyed seeing how their relationship progresses once they are on equal footing.
I love a slow burn romance because it feels more real and builds anticipation. This one is almost too slow for me, though. Is it too much to ask to get a little somethin’ somethin’ by the halfway point? However, I loved them together as a couple, and I liked that they have similar views about family and social status, as well as a shared devotion to their hometown of New Orleans. I especially appreciated how supportive Beau is of Lauren’s dreams.
The Beau & the Belle was a relaxing weekend read, and I’m looking forward to reading even more romantic comedies by R.S. Grey.
Recommended for fans of:
New Orleans
Awkward teens
Unrequited love
King Cake
The Beau & the Belle is FREE on Kindle Unlimited as of 8/21/18.
About R.S. Grey
I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
I’ve heard mixed reviews of this one. I’m happy it’s one you could still enjoy despite the slowest burn. I think I’m still going to read this one at some point.
There is a definite fine line between a slow burn and a just plain boring book. LOL It sounds like this one might straddle that line. But I will probably give it a try. Great review!