Series: A Modern Fairytale*
Release Date: June 15th, 2014
After an IED explosion in Afghanistan took Asher’s hand and disfigured half of his face, he’s lived a quiet life on the outskirts of Danvers where the locals respect his privacy … that is, until Savannah Carmichael comes calling in a borrowed sundress and a plate of homemade brownies. When Asher agrees to be interviewed by Savannah, he starts feeling things for the beautiful reporter that he hasn’t felt in years.
Misfits in small-town Danvers, Savannah and Asher create a bond right away, touching each other’s hearts in ways neither though possible. When a terrible mistake threatens to drive them apart, they’ll have to decide if the love they found in one another’s arms is strong enough to fight for their hard-won happily ever after.
• Death of family
• Grief
• Sexual assault
• Violence
• Gaslighting
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 5/5 stars
*Each novel in the series is Standalone
I’m always hesitant to give five stars because when you think about it nothing can ever be perfect but The Vixen and the Vet deserved five stars because I loved it so much.
My favourite Disney princess, as clichéd as it is, is Cinderella. I’m the person always rooting for the underdog … so when I came across this story, which is pretty much based on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast, I admit I was hesitant. I didn’t know what to really expect.
The Vixen and the Vet was heartbreakingly real which made it so beautiful to read. I think I have to note that I started this book at 11:30 PM and stayed up ’til 6:30 AM to finish this book. I could not put it down.
This book wasn’t one of those deeply angst ridden novels, where the world keeps beating down the heroine and the hero. The Vixen and the Vet story was realistic; nothing always goes smoothly in relationships. These are two normal people who had a hard hand of fate handed to them, and they both learned to deal with it.
“There was no future for them. He certainly couldn’t ask her to hide in the shadows with him, nor could he follow her to a city where people would gawk at him like the freak, the beast, he was.”
The writing was quite notable, mainly because the story was narrated in the third person and I still felt everything that both the characters were feeling: hesitation, disbelief, and hope.
The pace of the book was fluid, taking care never to rush anything. Regnery delivered the story with it’s deserved attention to each and every detail. Although, I do wish that there was an epilogue! The plot development of the story followed The 12 Most Important Milestones in a Relationship, which you can see below. This helped deliver a truthful journey from a woman meeting a man, to becoming friends to so much more.
“Asher Lee,” said Savannah breathlessly, standing up at the table, her knees wobbly from the force of her feelings. “What did you just do for me?”
“Savannah Carmichael,” he said, his face softening with the most tender, loving smile she’d ever seen. “I love you. Don’t you know I’d do anything for you?”
The characters … what to say about Asher Lee and Savannah Carmichael? I’m pleased to say that the heroine didn’t bother me despite her frustrating need to have it all (although, I saw the misunderstanding coming from miles away). Asher and Savannah also proved to have a very realistic and mature relationship, making sure not to rush into anything. And the story was just so goddamn romantic!
What I appreciated most was the absolute bluntness that Asher’s injuries were described. The author, Regnery, didn’t shy away from Asher’s reality, and that too made the story much more believable. You’re able to really see where Asher’s insecurities, and despair lie. And when Savannah is first introduced to Asher, face to face, she isn’t immune to the disfigurements, but as their relationship develops, they become a part of him and she no longer thinks anything about them anymore.
The 12 Most Important Milestones in a Relationship
1. the first time you sit in a comfortable silence
2. the first time you realize you enjoy is company before anyone else’s
3. the first time you look like hell, and he couldn’t care less
4. the first time you talk until dawn
5. the first time you bring him home to meet the family
6. the first time you’re naked together and you don’t feel a shred of insecurity
7. the first time you realize you don’t want anyone else but him
8. the first time you see a future with him
9. the first time you take a trip together
10. the first big blowup fight
11. the first time you realize he’s your home
12. the first time you realize that he loves you as much as you love him.
“What happens after twelve?” asked Savannah, half kidding.
“After twelve, you’re ready for forever,” said Scarlet, not kidding one bit.
