Nero de Santis is a billionaire and a complete idiot at the best of times. He runs out of assistants quicker than he can change his underwear daily. He seems to be very closed off and kind of really irritating as well. The amount of times I wanted to knock some sense into him is dangerously high in this book. He has no manners and demands shit, like I’m sorry but there’s a certain limit to how much you can demand before you give back. I’m aware he has his reasons but for me those reasons didn’t quite justify his actions in this book.

Phoebe Taylor; engaged and needs the money to keep her fiancé in the hospital bed he is in. She’s a character that I warmed up to after a while but her attitude at times in the book put me off majorly. I think this book is enjoyable but not as enjoyable as I’d hoped. I am still looking forward to the next book but I am hoping that it was an improvement in character development.

All in all, 3.5 stars.

Just an okay story. I didn't get the falling in love part because Nero was kind of an asshole. The author's descriptions of how Nero felt were terrific when he left his rooms.

The whole "Beauty and the Beast" storyline is one of my favorites. This book however just did not deliver on what it advertised. If the first interaction between the hero and heroine isn't enough to give you the "ick" factor than just keep reading and pick from one of the other over the top bizarre and utterly unappealing advances from the hero. I get that our heroine needs money (and the some reality needs to be suspended for romance novels) but what woman in their right mind would move in with a guy who spoke like he did to her during their first meeting not to mention the creepy "hair playing". I was really hoping that a big turn around was in store and of course the characters grew from what they started out as but I was just never endeared to the hero and never felt the chemistry between them was genuine. It just felt forced and awkward the whole time. Not a fan on this one.

“The Billionaire Beast” is a romance novel retelling of Beauty and the Beast, where the “beast” is a wealthy recluse. Nero spends all his time at home, within a few rooms, as he is still dealing with agoraphobia left over from when he was locked up as a child. He manages some companies from home and is looking for a personal assistant to help with business and personal life (since he doesn’t leave home). However, most applicants stay away from him due to his bad reputation as a boss.

Phoebe is desperately in need of money to pay her fiancé’s medical bills at the hospital where he has been in a coma for two years. Despite the warnings she has been given, she’s willing to take the six figure assistant job to help pay the medical bills. Nero is intrigued by his new employee, who does her job admirably. However, it appears his interest could be something more.

Overall, I liked the book- the earlier parts made me a bit squeamish, as he forces her to kiss him and steamrolls over her completely (dubious consent), but by the time anything further happened, she was a willing participant. However, it did have a few elements of sexual harassment (including that he threatens her job if she won’t). Regardless, you get these same elements in the original fairytale/Disney movie (it’s a little different watching it as an adult), so it was very “in line” with the fairytale it is retelling. Nero and Phoebe are both broken people in their own ways, and even though Phoebe acknowledges that she wants to fix him, I think he helps to fix her too. This was the strength of the fairytale which also comes out here.

The book is told from both of their perspectives with key scenes being described from both people, and it was interesting to get inside their heads and see how they viewed it. The whole book was well written and flowed well- the storyline was strong and not just about the action (as romance novels sometimes are). It’s a good book with romance elements (not a romance book with a bit of story). This is a really intense, sexy read.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publishers through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

There was nothing wrong with the writing. I just had no understanding of how this could continue - The woman had a fiancee in a coma she was taking care of for 2 years. She goes to work for this man who has no ability to see how the norms of society be haves. I cannot see how these two could become a couple. Did not like any of them. Sorry

an ok read

Phoebe has been an assistant to many people. She goes to an interview with a recluse who hasn't left his home in ten years. He is offering six figures and she desperately needs the money. Her fiancé has been in a coma for two years and she's paying his medical bills.
Nero is an overbearing, butt hole, billionaire who lives in three rooms of his massive house. His mother hid him in a little room for ten years to keep her husband from finding out. She told Nero his step father didn't like children and she had to hide him to keep him safe.
I'll be honest I didn't like Nero until the very very end. I understand his phobia because I have a mild form of it. Phoebe is a good hearted person and wants to try and help Nero but he has to want help. He has a caveman mentality but Phoebe doesn't seem to mind it. Wild sex. Secrets. And a woman who realizes she needs to help people. But will Nero let her in or will he let her walk away?

This was my 2nd book by this author and I read the first book in this series as well. While its a series it stands alone and we don't even see the characters from the first book. But this is about the hero in the first books 1/2 brother.

I really enjoyed it, though some aspects of it bothered me. I went in thinking it was a fairy tale in modern times like I did the first book and so I did not take things super seriously. It really is a nice beauty and the beast romantic theme story.

Nero is our beast and he has never known love. In fact he has never known freedom either. He is pretty caged in this gue mansion he owns that was once a block of homes but he tore them down and formed one huge house. Though the house is huge, he is actually terrified of it and only tries to spend time in 4 rooms. He is terribly trapped by the past and his fear and pain.

While he is all that, he is also a sexy, alpha beast sexually. This is a very HOT book so expect lots of sex scenes. Phoebe (P) is the heroine and she also has never really known love. To her parents she was expected to take care of them and even her fiancee she had to do everything for. Now he is in a coma and she is financially responsible for him as well. This is what brings her to Neros home and she becomes his assistant for an obscene amount of money she needs to use for her fiancee..

One of my biggest objections to this story was that she is engaged. Her fiancee has been in a comas for two years but she still considers herself engaged. So in her mind when she starts a sexual thing with Nero because she cannot resist, she feels like she is cheating on her fiancee and I agreed with her. She was very much still attached to her fiancee and while 2 years later one could say, they aren't really engaged anymore. In her mind she would never move on, she still was very much attached to the fiancee.

That aside I enjoyed Nero and P together and I enjoyed watching Nero fall hard for P. P seemed to be very distant from Nero. She had other obligations, she would disapear and she never really saw anything beyond needing the job for the money. While she opened up a lot, Nero hid a lot from her.

One of which is he had cameras everywhere. He spied on her a lot without her knowledge and I felt that was huge. He was very stalkerish with her and while I understood why he did it. It also did not appeal to me. I also felt it came off very creepy and was not a plot point that was really needed.

But this was a faairy tale, a hot one and very sexy and I really loved it.Yes, I had some issues but the author did a great job with a very tough storyline and made it work and made me even LOVE Nero's character.

A very quick read. While I wish the author had expanded this story to include more, I really enjoyed what was written. This is a good thing when the reader wants more!!

What a story! It reminded me of a version of beauty and the beast story. What complex characters in this story who are just perfect for each other. She has a way of calming the beast side of him and to see how much she came out of her shell throughout this book was awesome. She started asking for what she wanted and started pushing him outside his comfort zone. Great writing that really draws you into the story and keep you wanting more and to really know what happen to him.

Honestly, I gave this book three stars because it was better than the previous book. However, I still wasn't a fan of the power dynamic between Nero and Phoebe.

'The Billionaire Beast' by Jackie Ashenden is book Two in the "Billionaire Fairytales" series. This is the story of Nero and Phoebe. This is easily a standalone book. Phoebe has moved to America from London to be with the man she planed to marry. But he was in a car accident that left him in a coma and with no family she is the one taking care of the hospital bills. Which has taken all of her savings and now she has taken a job with Nero who is know as the 'Beast". Because no one stays long that works for him due to his temper. But he offers a price that she can't say no and will try to put up with him. Nero due to a traumatic childhood doesn't leave his house. In addition he has somewhat of a temper and doesn't really understand the basic part of caring. But when he sees Phoebe he is attracted to her and doesn't understand that she isn't going along with his demand at first to sleep with him.
It was so interesting to watch these two come together and deal with their issues. Loved it!!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

The Billionaire Beast was a bit disturbing at times, but I think that's what made it a good book for me. Phoebe is in desperate need of money, she's worked for difficult people in her past. And grew up with parents who didn't see her and appreciate her. So Nero was just another in a long line of needy people that doesn't deserve her.
Nero had a horrific childhood. Instead of getting him help, his father threw money at the problem and hoped it would go away. Now Nero is not only stuck in his house, he's stuck in himself. He's quite content with the circumstances the way that they are. So when Phoebe becomes his personal assistant and shakes up his normal, he's not sure what to do.
Nero first described Phoebe as not really pretty. It was fun reading how he starts to see her in a different way rather quickly. The sex scenes were off the charts hot. Boy for being a recluse, Nero sure does know how to satisfy a woman.

One day I'll probably tire of Beauty and the Beast romances, but today is not that day. And The Billionaire Beast is a great homage to the trope. Tortured beast of a hero, innocent damsel in need, cold castle...check, check, check. Now, throw in intense sexy times, agoraphobia, and a dash of alphahole, and now we've got a real modern day telling of the "tale as old as time".

I really enjoyed the modern feel of Phoebe and Nero's story. No twee magic spells or charming servants are aiding these two lost and lonely souls. Nero may have billions, but he's literally trapped in his own house and painful memories. Likewise, Phoebe is trapped by family responsibilities. It isn't magic that binds them but good old fashioned lust, and later, love.

A high 3.5*


After reading 'The Billionaire's Virgin' I was intrigued by Nero the mysterious half brother to Xavier and Lorenzo and I was looking forward to his book.
Several pages in and I wasn't sure I was going to like this, Nero was cold, harsh and unapproachable which honestly from the title and blurb wasn't unexpected and Phoebe was engaged and apparently in love with her fiancé.
Now I knew from the blurb she was engaged but I'd kind of assumed her fiancé had been cheating or something, some reason we could dislike him and she could be working to pay his healthcare simply because there's no one else to do it.
Nero lives in huge house, a house he hasn't left in ten years he's cold, hard selfish and ruthless and he can't keep an assistant (no surprise there) despite the huge salary he offers.
He expects perfection 24/7 and despite being warned to stay away Phoebe is desperate, she needs money and lots of it to pay her fiancé hospital bills and so she's prepared to put up with just about anything.
Phoebe is prim proper and incredibly hardworking regardless of the hour Nero calls her and Nero is intrigued.
Phoebe is a giver but unfortunately she's been surrounded by takers and through her developing relationship with Nero we learn more about her, her past and her life with Charles.
While I didn't dislike Phoebe I didn't like that she was so weak and so easily manipulated by the people who should care about her the most, especially when the details of her relationship with Charles were revealed.
Now Nero is a different matter completely the first time we meet him he's cold ruthless and uncaring but slowly, very slowly we see him start to change partly through his attraction to Phoebe, he's never really wanted anything he hasn't been instantly able to have before but also because he spends so much time with her and watching her he sees other things, reactions and feelings and it's all new to him. We know he's damaged but we discover just how damaged he truly is.
I have to say I enjoyed this book more than the previous one and more than I thought I would.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

This was a great book. My heart broke for Nero and the things he suffered as a kid and into adulthood. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about Phoebe but once I got to know her I liked the two of them together. This was a roller coaster of a ride but I really enjoyed it.

Great book. Nero was such a damaged soul and it melted my heart that he would face his greatest fear to be with the woman he loved.

First, this is NOT your typical romance but so worth the read. And it will take you to the last few pages before you know what's happening. So grab something to drink and eat and some tissues because you will not want to move until you're done!

Nero is a billionaire recluse who is sees things one way, his way. Or you are fired. And he is very demanding. The flip side is he pays an astronomical salary and he may up it if it will actually find him a good assistant who will put up with him.

Phoebe is in need of work and money. Lots of money and fast. She's done her homework, or so she thinks, before going to her interview. That should have made her prepared, but it didn't. The thing is, she doesn't have much of a choice if she is going to get the money she needs.

This is an emotional override of emotions. Shock, anger, pity, fear, love, grief. You name it and it's in this book. Not for the faint of heart!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that I wasn't expecting the story to turn out the way it did. At first I wasn't sure I'd like the story, since Nero came off as an A rate jerk but he grew on me really fast and in the end I really felt for him. His past nearly destroyed his future. He lived in terrible conditions as a child and was abused, so that left him with deep scars and with the fear to leave his comfort places. It's been years since he stepped out of his house, so of course he needed help from various assistants to get him things from the stores and so on. And that's where we get to met his new assistant, Phoebe. She needs the money that comes with her being by his side 24/7. He can be insanely demanding but over the time she comes to see his scars and fears. With that she of course wants to help him but that's easily said than done. You could say this is a story about two people that end up helping each other to get over their demons.
This story is a mix of sweetness, sexyness and sorrow. I really liked reading about the journey those two took and how that changed them. I would definitely recommend it!

Title: The Billionaire Beaste
Author: Jackie Ashenden
Publisher/Year: St Martin's Press 3/7/17
Length: 198 Pages
Series: Billionaire Fairytales #2

Overview

Nero de Santis: Damaged. Bastard. Beast.

Nero hasn’t left his house in ten years. He demands the world come to him, and the world is only too happy to bend to the strong-willed billionaire.

Ruthless, cold, and selfish, Nero wants for nothing and takes care of no one but himself. His last handful of assistants have left his house in tears, but the prim redhead applying for the job looks up to the task. Nero has spent his life shut within the walls he built, with no care to have more than a window to the outside world. But the fiery passion he senses beneath his reserved assistant’s exterior makes him want to break down the barriers he lives behind, and unleash the beast within.

Phoebe Taylor: Uptight. Misunderstood. Engaged.

Phoebe needs the obscene amount of money that comes with being Nero’s personal assistant for one thing, and one thing only—to pay for the mounting hospital costs that her fiancee’s two-year coma continues to incur. She’s heard rumors that the de Santis beast is a force that cannot be tamed—but even she isn’t prepared to handle the smoldering intensity simmering beneath his hard shell of feral dominance.

Nero is hiding something, something he is fighting with every step he takes. Yet he can’t help but stake his claim on this woman who has shaken up his life, and Phoebe can’t believe this animal of a man is the one person to ever look into her eyes and see her soul. Nero wants to keep her. He wants to devour her. And Phoebe just might let him.

My Thoughts

First off i should thank the folks at Netgalley and St Martin's Press for sending me this advance copy since i'm really a fan both of this author and a lot of what comes from the publisher. Anyhow, you'll remember that we began our journey with this family - the de Santis when we met Laurent in the first book - when he saved a girl Cinderella style from being homeless and bringing her into a life of stability, wealth and love. This 2nd book gives us more of the Beauty and the Beast aspect as the title suggests.

So we have Nero, the son that no one knew about for a while - or did they? He had a very interesting life up until he was about 15, and that's shaped the man that we know now. He lived in a 5x6 room for 10 years, his mother hid him from his violent stepfather (or did she), and because of that, he's got this insane fear of being outside and in the public. He's therefore closed himself off in 2-3 rooms in his HUGE house in new york city, and it's turned him into a demanding person/employer and that's where Phoebe comes in.

Phoebe is a Brit who's moved to new york with her fiance, a man who we learn is in a coma as a result of a car accident 2 years prior. Caring for him has become her life as she's devoted all her time and money to ensuring that he's got the best care in the hopes that perhaps he'll wake up. this is what leads her to Nero and that's where our story goes.

Throughout this story we see two really broken people come together in a way that's expected but sweet. Aside from what Phoebe's going through now, her past isn't that great either as we learn about her sister and parents, so it's not surprising that she and Nero find that they've got something complex together.

Nero's demanding ways shows us that he's going to have some type of controlling passion that will be unleashed, and Phoebe's insane calm and innocence means that we're going to see Nero's alpha dominance bring out a side of her that's so sexual that she never expected it.

What we get is Phoebe learning more and more about herself and how to pleasure not only Nero but herself too. Nero as a result starts to come out of his shell a bit and not just open up to things that he's terrified of, but to her too. It's sweet and hot all at the same time.

It's when secrets of his past are finally uncovered and Phoebe's forced to face a change in the situation with her fiance that we finally get resolution here and all in all it's nicely sorted out. It's such a sweet and intense story all that the same time and i can't wait to see what's next in this series.