If you could only see yourself the way I see you, you would know no change is needed.
K. A. Merikan
LAurent and the Beast
Format:
Audiobook.
Note: The series has been combined into a box set, both ebook & audio. I grabbed mine on Kobo, but it’s distributed widely.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
1805. Laurent: Indentured servant. Desperate to escape a life that is falling apart.
2017. Beast: Kings of Hell Motorcycle Club vice president. His fists do the talking.
Beast has been disfigured in a fire, but he’s covered his skin with tattoos to make sure no one mistakes his scars for weakness. The accident not only hurt his body, but damaged his soul and self-esteem, so he’s wrapped himself in a tight cocoon of violence and mayhem where no one can reach him.
Until one night, when he finds a young man covered in blood in their clubhouse.
Sweet, innocent, and as beautiful as an angel fallen from heaven, Laurent pulls on all of Beast’s heartstrings. Laurent is so lost in the world around him, and is such a tangled mystery, that Beast can’t help but let the man claw his way into the stone that is Beast’s heart.
In 1805, Laurent has no family, no means, and his eyesight is failing. To escape a life of poverty, he uses his beauty, but that only backfires and leads him to a catastrophe that changes his life forever. He takes one step into the abyss and is transported to the future, ready to fight for a life worth living.
What he doesn’t expect in his way is a brutal, gruff wall of tattooed muscle with a tender side that only Laurent is allowed to touch. And yet, if Laurent ever wants to earn his freedom, he might have to tear out the heart of the very man who took care of him when it mattered most.
Point of view:
3rd person. Alternating perspectives between Beast & Laurent
Rellim’s Thoughts:
Updated for January 2022 relisten:
This was my first book by K. A. Merikan (I literally found this book by poking around on my library’s site and following “you might likes” from book to book until I stumbled on this. Libraries are awesome y’all!), but I’m definitely familiar with Joel Leslie. Later I purchased the audio box set of the entire series. (such a fantastic deal!)
I was looking for something completely different and found it. I’m a sucker for age gap, Beast is 32, Laurent is 19 but the idea of time travel, an MC, a tattooed giant of a man and I was totally sucked in. At 15 hours, this was a big commitment – but worth every minute. While dark and serious, there were moments of levity to keep me from being overwhelmed.
While Beast & Laurent have a complete romantic story arc, this ends on an HFN. There’s a storyline that runs through all the books. So you need to listen to them all and in order. I’m excited to move on to My Dark Knight.
Narration:
Joel Leslie is just phenomenal in this book. Laurent and the devil’s voices/accents could have easily come off as caricatures with anyone else. Instead they were dynamic. I was completely immersed in the world and never let out until the end.
About the author:
K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.
You can connect with K.A. Merikan here:
About the narrator:
Joel Leslie is a UK transplant, growing up with American parents in a British commonwealth. A classically trained actor with an MFA in theatre from USC, he is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of American and British sounds. His great range and ability to bring characters to life with honesty, wit and versatility delights producers and listeners alike.
You can connect with Joel Leslie here:
My Favorite Quotes
Laurent had pulled out a thorn that had been stuck in Beast’s heart since forever. – Laurent and the Beast by @KA_Merikan #Audiobook narrated by @joellesliefro @TantorAudio #KingsOfHellMC #AgeGap #Supernatural #DarkRomance #Horror
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If you could only see yourself the way I see you, you would know no change is needed. – Laurent and the Beast by @KA_Merikan #Audiobook narrated by @joellesliefro @TantorAudio #KingsOfHellMC #AgeGap #Supernatural #DarkRomance #Horror
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Rellim Reads 