Beauty’s Beasts

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Details

Erotic Paranormal Romance
MMF menage romance, contemporary settings, New York City, vampires, gargoyles, other paranormal and mythical creatures.
ISBN: 9781419928758
Winner, Sassy Brit Bookcover Award
Ellora’s Cave: ePub, PDF, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Rocketbook, Mobipocket formats
Barnes & Noble: ePub format
Amazon: Kindle format
Pages: 146 in PDF, including front matter (Novel-sized story).
$5.95 from Ellora’s Cave (prices can fluctuate — do shop around!)

This is the second book in the Guardian Bonds series.

The first book was Carson’s Night.
The third will be Sabrina’s Clan.

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Outline

Beauty’s Beasts is the sequel to Carson’s Night

Riley Carson Connors is yanked out of Pittsburgh and coaxed to New York by two tall, sexy strangers. Nicholas Sherwood and Damian are the only people in the world who know anything about her parents, and what they know is terrifying. She must face a powerful enemy who killed both her parents, who were the best at what they did.

But while the truth about Riley’s family history is a powerful magnet, Damian and Nicholas prove to be even more compelling. Former lovers and brought together only because they gave their word to her mother, the two powerful vampires play erotic mind games with Riley, each with a hidden sexual agenda that Riley can’t begin to guess, but seems to involve driving her out of her mind with the sort of pleasure only a centuries-old lover would know how to give.

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Reviews

What can I say about Beauty’s Beasts by Teal Ceagh? It’s an outstanding book but be prepared to have your hanky ready.

Yep, that’s right – this book will cause a few tears to flow but I won’t tell you why. I will say however that Ms. Teal has taken the best of two of my favorite genres: paranormal and ménage (what sane woman could resist two hunky vampires who are determined to share her ? Not this chick!) and combined them in a new and delightful way.

But this book doesn’t just have lots and lots of sex in it. It has everything a good old fashioned adventure story should have: an evil villain, the unknowing stooge, creatures of the night and heroic men/vampires who will do everything to keep their woman safe. So if you’re looking for a wild ride on the dark side this is definitely the book for you. Once this reviewer started this book, she couldn’t stop until the last page was read!

Tamara for Blackraven’s Reviews

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Hot sexy and rapt with suspense Beauty’s Beasts is a erotic page turner full of heart. Pulling constantly at your emotions, Ms. Ceagh drags you into the tempest and imprisons you with words. Certainly one You Gotta Read.

Brynna for You Gotta Read Reviews

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Beauty’s Beasts is a delightfully, wicked and erotic book. I loved every minute of it. If your looking for a book that has everything a reader could want then this one is not to miss. Teal Ceagh delivers action, adventure, and just enough mayhem mixed in along the way to keep the reader guessing at what will happen next. I loved the sex, it got my juices flowing and I loved every minute of it.

Don’t miss out on this was a wonderful read.

Angibabi4 for Night Owl Reviews

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Beauty’s Beasts is a great story with interesting characters. Teal Ceagh’s vampires are different in this story, for they are not so focused on bloodlust. Rather, they are more focused on everyday relationship problems that the century’s old vampire might encounter. It was refreshing to see the more “humanistic” characteristics show through in these vampires.

While Riley trains to become the demon hunter she was always meant to be, Damian puts his plans into motion. Through Damian’s machinations and intrigue, the plot takes some unusual turns. As a reader, I couldn’t wait to find out how this story would end.

In between the training and intrigue, the relationship between Riley, Nick, and Damian starts to take shape. The sex scenes are descriptive and sensual, not to mention hot and steamy.

Beauty’s Beasts ends, but it feels unfinished. Teal Ceagh leaves the story with the potential for a sequel, which would be welcomed!

Stacey Krug for Siren Book Reviews

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Opening a book by the very gifted author Teal Ceagh readers know they are in for magical treat that will carry them away into a dark world of sensuality and paranormal delights leaving them spellbound. Beauty’s Beasts is a vividly captivating paranormal thriller that is infused with edgy suspense, dark passion and an extreme emotional depth that immediately grabs the reader and never lets go! Vibrant and colorful descriptions easily absorb the reader into the sights and sounds of this marvelous story that will keep the reader guessing until the very climatic ending. Riley, Nicholas and Damian are intense, multi-dimensional and flawed characters which make them come to life and leap off the pages. The sexy and quirky banter is sharp, humorous and riveting. The sex is consuming, red hot, seductive and charged. The engaging supporting characters create just the right amount of intensity to the adventure to bring it to life.

Shannon for The Romance Studio

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This is a really good love story, and very good vampire/gargoyle tale, and, in its own way, a study of human nature. Even at their advanced ages, Damian and Nicolas learn something about themselves, each other, and Riley. Riley certainly learns that no matter the life form, no matter the quality of the relationship and its participants, certain basic truths are foundational. This novel was so well written and very readable. It wasn’t simplistic by any means, but it was not so overly complicated in its plot and story development that a reader would be “worn out” trying to comprehend the basics of the work. I think the author did beautifully in drawing the reader forward throughout the story, and bringing a truly good romantic novel into being.

I am looking forward to reading other works by this author. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

Judith for Book Binge.

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Beauty’s Beasts is the second release in Teal Ceagh’s urban fantasy series Guardian Bonds. It’s the first book by the author that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

The book is relatively short at around 140 pages but the author has packed a great deal of action, passion, desire, danger and sex within, making it a paranormal lover’s wicked delight. Damian and Nicholas are as different as night and day. Damian is sexy, fun, loving and charming, while Nicholas is brusque, cold and emotionally closed off; yet I liked them both. Riley’s smart, dedicated and a determined control freak who’s scared of getting hurt. The growing relationship of Riley and the vamps is the backbone of the story but training her to survive is what moves the plot forward. Add in Riley’s heritage, the newly resurrected rogue gargoyle clan killing unsuspecting New Yorkers and the demon, Azazel, and you have all the components for an entertaining read in a keeper paranormal series.

The secondary characters are few but important and the twist of having a sculptor, Nathan, involved in was a nice touch I didn’t expect. I also liked Sabrina, Riley’s best friend, and even though her part was rather small in the beginning, her return at the end sets up the next release, Sabrina’s Clan, very nicely. I anxiously await the next installment of this series. Read and enjoy!

Mystical Nymph for Literary Nymphs

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It is a great read I recommend to any readers who like their paranormal/urban fantasy romances on the steamier side. The plot was well done and I believe set up things nicely for the next installment. I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite between Nick and Damian. Both characters were extremely well done. Teal Ceagh did a terrific job in adding in very human emotions but keeping the supernatural elements in the forefront. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Pamela Sinclair “PS in AL” Amazon Reader Review

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[ B+ Rating ] The book is fairly short, coming in at 163 pages. The pacing was quick and surprised me how much story the author was able to pack into that length. The love story of Riley, Damian and Nicholas took a different turn that what I had expected but I did like how it all played out. I would have liked more back story on Damian and Nicholas and their history together. Riley’s parents story can be found in Book 1 of the series but you don’t need to read it before reading Beauty’s Beasts. There is a short scene at the end that left me wanting to know what happens with Riley best friend and roommate, Sabrina. That will have to wait until book 3, Sabrina’s Clan comes out.

Leslie for Leslie’s Psyche

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Just like the first story in this series, I really enjoy reading this book. I’ve already met Nick and Damian in the first story and I have to say Miss Ceagh didn’t disappoint me. Damian and Nick are so different in characters, but so right for each other and when Riley walks into their life, the love triangle…the bond is complete.

I’m definitely going to keep my eye on this author and especially this series. I know for sure there is more to tell in this world.

Natasja van Diejen for Vampire Romance Books

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Excerpt

Usual warning folks…This is not kiddie fare. Read at your own moral risk.

Chapter Two

Deal With It became Riley’s mantra, because once she agreed to go with them to New York, Nick and Damian dropped their human façade and let her see their true natures. They kept the shield in place only long enough to let Riley convince Sabrina that she wasn’t totally out of her mind to leave with them.

Sabrina took a considerable amount of persuasion before she unhappily accepted Riley’s departure, but Riley refused to just leave without Sabrina’s blessing. Sabrina was the closest Riley had to family in the world. She was her best friend and they had known each other for nearly ten years. They had met when Riley had graduated high school in St. Louis, Missouri, shrugged off the last set of foster parents and become officially independent. She had found a job at Starbucks for the minimum of low wages going and a second at McDonalds across the street. Sabrina had been working at both places as well and within two weeks they’d moved into an apartment together, and acquired two other roommates. They’d been sharing apartments and roommates ever since.

Sabrina had been won over by the same two facts that had forced Riley to agree to travel to New York with Damian and Nicholas herself: They knew things about Riley’s parents that Riley would give her eye teeth to know and when they guaranteed her safety there was a flat sincerity in their tone that was more convincing that a bonded warrantee. Sabrina had hugged Riley and bid her farewell with tears in her eyes…and had slipped her the can of mace she normally kept under her own pillow. The practical touch was both endearing and typically Sabrina.

Damian and Nicholas were both terrifying and fascinating at the same time. Riley’s first biggest shock was to learn the humbling fact that they considered her to be “merely” human and quite unintelligent. Both had assumed they would have to make allowances for her lack of processing ability.

As they stuffed Damian’s and her hastily packed bags into the trunk of Nicholas’s beautiful blood red S-type Jaguar, Damian offered her the passenger seat but Nicholas curtly told her to take the back seat. “You will need your sleep. You won’t sleep much once we arrive.”

“You just don’t want her sitting next to you,” Damian accused him as they settled into the car.

“I want her in prime condition for training when we get there.” Nicholas swerved the car into traffic with unconscious skill.

“You want her, is the primary condition,” Damian corrected.

“Unlike you, Damian, I rose above petty distractions long ago.”

“Tally wasn’t a petty distraction and you were just as devastated by her death as I was.”

“Hey, you do remember I’m sitting right here, don’t you?” Riley thumped the back of their seats.

Neither of them replied.

“You both sound like a couple of school girls,” she told them. “You’re not going to fire potshots at each other all the way to New York, are you?”

After a long pause, Nicholas said, “Just go to sleep, Riley.”

“And what happens at sunrise?” she asked.

“Why?”

“I just want to know if I have to tuck you guys in or something.”

She saw Nicholas’ blue eyes in the rear view mirror look at her finally. She couldn’t tell if he was amused or not. “That’s just in stories,” he said softly. “Daylight weakens us, slows us down. We prefer to relax and rest. But we don’t burst into flames at the touch of sunlight.”

“Bet you don’t sparkle, either.”

Damian laughed. It sounded like it was derisive.

Nicholas was still looking at her in the mirror, glancing away from the highway they were now on with the assured confidence of a rally driver. “But we do have the keen sense of smell,” he said. “And I can smell you, Riley Connor.”

In one in-drawn breath she grew aware of every sensation. Of the leather under her fingers as she gripped the edges of the seat on either side of her knees, of the slight smell of pine coming from the carpets in the floors and walls of the car, of the scent of musk and male from the two big men sitting in the seats before her—this surprised her the most, for she had thought it took a heartbeat and pulse and body heat to create human-type scents. Her body tightened, the tips of her breasts seemed to swell and she could feel them chaffing gently against her bra.

Riley lay down on the seat and pretended to sleep, while her overloaded brain danced and her body zinged with new-found awareness. She wanted them. She wasn’t sure which of them she wanted the most.

Since she was about thirteen or so, she had been aware that she was what the world considered “a beauty” and that most men would do almost anything in their power to have her. But “having” her meant only taking her sexually. Men never thought beyond that, and they didn’t care what she thought about the idea. Usually, they had no permanent plans beyond the initial one of fucking her. It was enough to get their cock inside her.

If she had been as dumb as a box of rocks, they would have liked it better, she suspected. It would have made their job so much easier.

Fact was, though, Riley had a brain. In the thirteen years or so that she had been—euphemistically speaking—trying to date men, not a single man had noticed or taken an interest in the fact that Riley was actually intelligent. They saw only her beauty and were caught up in the determination to fuck her so that they could say they’d had her. It was like a fever, and she had learned to spot it in their eyes and faces.

Neither Damian nor Nicholas had even so much as glanced at her that way. Damian had spoken of Nicholas wanting her, but in a tone that implied she was simply a desirable human. There was nothing of the fevered determination that drove so many men to the lying, the beatings, the schemes, the semi-rapes that she had suffered through in the past.

Damian’s implication also answered another question she’d had. Clearly vampires could and did have sex with humans, and both Damian and Nicholas were bisexual…if such distinctions were even a consideration in their world.

Their almost-indifference to her was a goad, she knew that. She was “merely” human, barely intelligent and only the daughter of the great Natalia Connor, not Tally herself. They were going through these motions only because they swore an oath to her mother, otherwise it appeared they could barely stand to be in the same room with each other. It made her want them with a power that she’d never felt before. After a lifetime of having men begging at her feet, the novelty of wanting someone—two someones—who seemed disinterested made her squirm on the seat.

“If it would help you relax and sleep, Damian or I could crawl back there and…help out,” Nicholas said.

Riley grew very still, even holding her breath. Her heart accelerated.

“Why do you say that?” Damian said softly.

“She’s aroused. Powerfully so.”

Riley heard Damian take a breath, sniffing. Her cheeks heated. She turned her face into the arm of her coat, humiliated beyond reason.

“Ah, yes,” Damian agreed.

Riley scrunched her face up inside the protecting crook of her arm and blew out the breath she had been holding. She kept very still for another few minutes, but when neither of them made a move, she relaxed again.

Somewhere around Somerset her sleep grew genuine and she woke to find her head pillowed on an smooth shoulder and chest, her face pressed against a strong neck and her whole body resting against firm torso. There was a cocked knee behind her back and a hand soothing her temple.

She tried to sit up.

“We are ninety minutes from New York. Relax.” Damian’s voice. In her ear. Rumbling against her shoulder.

Her heart was pistoning. She was lying on top of Damian and he wanted her to relax?

The hand stroking her temple dropped to her hip. “You have unpleasant nightmares.”

“I do?”

“You were not aware of this?”

“I know I don’t sleep well,” she muttered. Then she frowned. “I’ve been asleep for four hours?”

“More like six, actually,” Nicholas said, from the front seat. “I had to stop for petrol once and there was road work near Allentown. It’s sunrise in about thirty minutes.”

She tried to sit up again and this time Damian let her. “You let me sleep on you for six hours?”

“You were not sleeping well,” he said, sitting up. He’d taken off his coat and the rounded caps of muscles of his shoulders gleamed in the low light of the car. “Your dreams were not being kind to you. We thought the touch of another might help you.”

She bit her lip, frowning.

Damian lifted a brow. She could just see the movement in the growing light. “What?”

“I’ve never slept for six hours straight.”

“You’ve never slept with a man before, have you?” Nicholas asked.

Riley could feel her cheeks burning again. “I’m not a virgin,” she said stiffly.

“In this day and age, I would be astonished if you were. That’s not what I’m asking.” His blue eyes caught her gaze in the mirror. “I mean you’ve never had a man stay the night in your bed. You’ve literally never slept with a man in your bed.”

Riley shook her head.

“Therefore, you’ve never had anyone around to point out your nightmares to you,” Nicholas finished.

She rubbed her arms, suddenly cold. “I’ve never remembered them, either. I just figured I was one of those people who don’t sleep.”

Damian lifted her chin with his long finger and turned her face to look at him. “Apparently you’re one of those people who sleeps better with someone.” His smile showed even white teeth. “That is something we can arrange.”

Her whole body rippled with the warm promise in his voice.

“Now who’s getting distracted?” Nicholas said, his voice a low warning rumble.

Damian glared at the back of Nicholas’ head. Then he smiled at Riley. “Have you been to New York before, that you remember?”

She shook her head. “Although, I guess, I must have been at some time.”

“You were born there,” Damian confirmed. He waved toward the empty front passenger seat. “Why don’t you sit up front? Enjoy the view. Let Nicholas prove he’s above petty distractions.”

Riley hesitated. She didn’t want to get between these two. But Damian gently pushed her between the seats, so Riley settled herself into the luxurious passenger seat and buckled the seat belt.

Nicholas glanced at her. “You look refreshed, at least.”

She felt it. She would never have thought sleeping in a moving car could have been so relaxing, especially a car driven by a predatory creature design to hunt humans for sustenance, while she slept soundly upon the top of another of them.

“Did you glamour me or something, back in the apartment, Nicholas?”

“More fiction.” He shook his head.

“You engender trust, you and Damian. I don’t hop into cars for interstate adventures with just anyone.”

“You don’t trust anyone enough to spend the night with them even after sex,” Nicholas replied. “I know exactly how much trust you have placed in us. You want to know about your parents. We dangled powerful carrots.”

“You dangled carrots that no one could possibly know about unless they had been there. And for all you both pretend humans are just sheep you herd for food, I saw the look on both your faces when you spoke about my mother. Both of you loved her in different ways. I don’t care who did what, or what happened back then. You loved her. Deal with it, Nicholas.”

He stared straight ahead through the screen. “Emotions are useless, grit in the grease. Look at where they got Damian.”

“Fuck you, Nicholas.” The bitterness in Damian’s voice was deep.

Nicholas shook his head. “Vampires have no need of emotions. They just get in the way. They’re a hangover from a human psychology they no longer have, a habit that can be discarded.”

“Who are you trying to convince, Nick?” Riley asked. “Because it seems to me that after centuries of being a vampire, you still haven’t kicked the habit.”

Damian pushed his head between the seats. “I like this one,” he told Nicholas. “If she keeps slapping you around like this, I’m going to keep her.”

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