Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of fourteen years. She enjoys writing poignant romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel’s passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
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“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” – Nicholas Sparks
When we embark to read a romance novel, we expect to encounter an emotionally charged story, relatable characters, and universal themes. True, genuine love surpasses time and place, overcomes seemingly impossible barriers, and manifests itself in the most unexpected ways. True love is founded upon kindness, compassion, empathy, sacrifice, and friendship. It is full of surprises and revelations—and its eternal power touches our minds and hearts with an astonishing force.
These are common elements that enrich the genre and equip romantic stories with a poignant, unique, and timeless quality. They focus on the trials of tribulations of the human heart, and exist independently from time and place. Indeed—romance novels are special in that they showcase humanity’s continuous quest for hope, personal growth, pursuit of dreams, and the ability to conquer internal and external obstacles in spite of all oppositions.
Historical romance embodies the notion of timelessness even more so. They show us that, no matter the location or century, the basic elements of romance endure. The hero and heroine still seek the same end goals, are still driven by the same forces, and are still swept by the same emotions.
The most satisfying historical romances, however, further incorporate the cultural fabric of the era and seamlessly weave it into the relationship’s very essence. These historical elements add depth to the characterizations and story by demonstrating the unique complications of a particular time and setting.
I’ve always loved Beauty and the Beast and historical romances. Plain and simple. Combining the two was a rewarding experience and a thrilling challenge.
Although the original fairy tale brims with magic, at its heart, it’s a story of a suffering soul, alone and ostracized for his appearance, who yearns to be loved for himself.
Since I wanted to recreate the story as a historical romance, I wondered, “What if the beast wasn’t literally a beast—but a deformed man? And what if he wasn’t cursed by an enchantress (or evil fairy, depending on the version), and instead was cursed by a terrible personal tragedy?”
And so came the framework for my retelling: Beauty and the Beast reimagined with a dark and realistic twist. I incorporated elements of the French Revolution into the setting and the hero’s tragic backstory. Isabelle Rose, the story’s “Beauty,” is also a product of her time: She’s betrothed to an evil man, a true monster, and finds that her only escape is to flee her small village and rebuild a life of her own. It is at this point where the paths of Adam and Isabelle cross—and they embark on a romance filled with light, shadows, realistic struggles, and an enduring love for the ages.
*****
Beauty of the Beast
Fairy Tale Retellings, #1
by Rachel L. Demeter
Release Date: March 15, 2017
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance,
Fairy Tale Retellings, Gothic Romance
Purchase Links:
B&N // Kobo // iBooks
Amazon US // Amazon UK
Amazon CA // Indiebound
Stop by tomorrow for an excerpt
and review of Beauty of the Beast!
Buried Under Books 