4 Stars/Hot: "Beau and the Lady Beast is a fascinating, erotic and romantic tale about trust, obedience and love. Isadora has built a tough exterior so as to not get hurt again. She is an intelligent woman who has cut herself off from people, yet instead of deterring Beau, he is captivated by what is hidden behind her prickly façade. This proposition allows Beau to carefully plan a slow seduction of Isadora's body and heart even though she is uncomfortable being ten years his senior. The connection they feel is quite passionate and never humiliating. The use of BDSM allows Beau to slowly teach Isadora to trust him and more importantly herself. The sex scenes, although later in the story, were quite seductive and well worth the wait. The anticipation of their union was orchestrated so well that toys should be at close hand. The main focus of the story is the building relationship between Isadora and Beau with minor secondary characters that help to initiate the proposal. I found that even though Beau likes to be in control, he gives up his control for Isadora by cherishing and making her feel special. Beau is definitely a hero that I fell in love with at the very beginning. Not only did Beau have the perfect lure for Isadora, he saw beyond her beastly reputation to her inner beauty. I found this tale an entertaining entry to the BDSM genre. I look forward to reading future stories from Ms. Ashbury."--Tallyn Porter, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4 Cups: "Ms. Ashbury has written a wonderful adult fairy tale. The storyline is smooth and believable. The characters worked well together and make a wonderful couple. Trust is an issue and Beau and Isadora have that and offer much more. Beau and the Lady Beast is as entertaining as it is sexy."--Matilda, Coffee Time Romance

4 Stars: "In Beau and the Lady Beast by Morgan Ashbury, Beau and Isadora are in love with each other but they don't know it. This erotic fairy tale is a delight to read and a well written story with plenty of scorching sex scenes."--Racine, Ecataromance

"As a child, I was never a big fan of the beauty and the beast fairytale--I thought the dad was a weak toad--but I digress. There are no toad-like characters in Beau and the Lady Beast. In fact, Beau is a stone-cold fox. It is obvious that Beau has deep feelings for Isadora but since he is playing for keeps, he has to prove to her that she can count on him to keep her safe and that her strength and assertiveness do not turn him off. Beau and the Lady Beast is likely to become one of your favorite bedtime stories."--Sharon, Joyfully Reviewed

"You want me to what?"

Beau Brannigan took a moment to appreciate the sight of Isadora MacLean in full temper. Living up to her reputation for having a beastly disposition, she'd surged to her feet, her breath heaving in a way that showcased her lovely silk-covered breasts.

Her scowl told him she'd noticed him ogling her chest. He flashed her a grin and answered, "Become my hostage for the next three days. It's a small enough price to pay for fifteen percent of your company. Let's see ... going with the most conservative estimates, fifteen percent of twenty million dollars is three million. Divide that by seventy-two hours, and that's damn near forty-two thousand dollars an hour."

"That's absurd!"

Beau watched the shock wash through her and waited while she slowly lowered herself onto her chair. He wasn't going to point out this deal could effectively make her the most expensive courtesan of all time.

She'd certainly looked stunned when he revealed he'd purchased the stocks from one of her largest single shareholders. He understood the step she'd taken more than a decade before with her ISO had been, in her mind, a necessary evil. He also knew that ever since, she'd been buying up shares when they became available. Some had referred to the process as the Lady Beast's Holy Grail. The fifteen percent he'd just waved under her nose represented one hell of a big chunk of her company. Vital to her and valuable to him only because it gave him what he'd craved for the last year--the chance to get his hands on Isadora. It didn't matter, her being a dozen years older than he. He wanted her, and by damn, he was going to have her.

"Are you out of your mind? You want me to give you seventy-two hours of my time? To do what?"

"It isn't your time so much I want. It's you. And to do, Isadora, whatever it is I tell you to do."

Beau's plan was risky, that was certain. He understood her well enough to know she'd be suspicious of any overt attempt on his part to court her. Better to keep her off balance by way of an indecent proposal. When she was in his home, when he'd spent some time with her, would be soon enough to reveal his heart. He smiled. Sliding forward slightly on his chair, he put his elbows on her desk.

"Tomorrow at noon, my car and driver will arrive at your home. You'll be driven to my country estate, about an hour outside of town. Once inside the gates of my property, you will become a voluntary hostage, completely subservient to my every whim. Oh, and you don't need to pack a bag."

"You want me to come to your home in the country for the weekend and not pack anything? Not bring a change of clothes? That's totally ridiculous. You're not making any sense at all."

"Of course I am. If I require you to wear any clothes while you're my guest, I'll provide them."

He could tell by the look on her face she finally understood what he wanted.

"You ... me ... you ... if I wear clothes? You want me to be naked?"

"In my experience, having sex is easier if the parties involved are naked."

"Sex. You and me. Are you crazy? You think I'm going to have sex with you?"

"In exchange for fifteen percent of your company? Yes, I think you will. You look a little piqued, darling. Why don't I make you some tea?"

She was, he mused, a woman who obviously liked to have her creature comforts at her fingertips. A tiny service area took up one corner of her office. Beau blessed all those years spent in front of a camera when he'd been dubbed the most beautiful man alive. The skills he'd acquired then allowed him to affect a relaxed pose. She wouldn't see his nerves. He could hear the sound of her sputtering, but not her actual words.

Using the hot water dispenser, it took only moments to make a cup of tea and set it before her. He resumed his seat, and his bravado.

"You want me to sell my body to you in exchange for those stocks. You want to turn me into a ... a ... whore? Are you out of your ever-loving mind?"

Her choler captivated him. Red slashes of fury decorated her cheeks and icy darts shot from her electric blue eyes. Her voice rivaled the thunder and he wondered her assistant hadn't come running in response. She was, quite simply, the most stunning creature he had ever seen. He could admit that, and the fact that he likely needed therapy.

"Don't look at it that way. It's not my intention to make you feel like a whore."

"Then I don't understand. Is this ... some sort of payback, or something? Did I do something to piss you off? Seizing the opportunity to cage the Lady Beast and humiliate her? Humiliate me?"

"Is it so hard for you to understand that I simply want you? You're a beautiful woman. This has nothing to do with payback or humiliation, and everything to do with pleasure. You're not currently in a relationship, are you?"

"No."

"Then there really is no reason why you can't give yourself to me for the weekend, is there?"

"You can't be serious. You're going to ... to ... for seventy-two hours?"

Beau chuckled. Her temper had cooled as quickly as it had fire. Now, her face had gone pale, and she seemed to be having trouble putting sentences together. Her eyes had dilated and her nipples hardened. Two signs, he hoped, of arousal and not just extreme shock. He wanted to hug her and assure her all would be well, but he needed to maintain the role of roué. "I may allow you some time to eat. To sleep. Shall we make a small contract, just between the two of us? You have a printer here, which is handy. Two copies, and we'll both sign them. From noon tomorrow until noon Monday, you will be a willing hostage to my every whim. I'll absolutely guarantee your safety, but not necessarily your comfort. In return, upon completion of your, shall we say, 'personal service', I will sign over to you the stock in MacLean Cosmetics I've so recently purchased. Or you can say no, and I keep the stock. I'm sure you're aware fifteen percent is enough of a base for a canny manipulator to engineer a hostile takeover. I can be exceedingly canny, when the situation calls for it. The choice is entirely up to you."

In all the rumors about Isadora he'd heard, there'd been no talk of a personal life. She lived, slept, and breathed her company. She'd earned the nickname Lady Beast of Bond Street because her office was her lair from which she guarded her empire ruthlessly. Beau believed that the tough exterior of the Lady Beast hid a warm and compassionate woman, and if he had her to himself, even if just for three days, he could set that woman free.

But he had to get his hands on her first.

Beau tramped down the arousal that began to grow when she licked her dry lips. He noted the fine quiver in her hand when she picked up her tea and sipped.

"I've never ... what you're asking is that I give up all control. I've never not been in control. Never thought I would ever be."

"Nervous?"

"Very."

"Good. I can offer you a safe word. We could include in the contract between us that I won't hurt you. But then, once you're my hostage, I can do what I like, can't I? You'll just have to trust me. If you say yes." He sat back and let his eyes roam her body, much like he planned to let his hands roam as soon as he had her under his roof. "Can you do that? Can you trust me, put yourself into my hands? Do you accept my proposal?"