Stephen Grey is a young physician who resides in Santa Maria. He believes his sister and her twit friends worry needlessly about the pirates who are plaguing their island. Her Majesty has a wonderful fleet: surely they are safe from harm’s way, right? Not if Captain John the Beardless has anything to say about it. John is the wielder of his own fate. He will not accept the word “no” unless it comes directly from his own mouth.

Will the innocent doctor muster enough might to escape the captain’s advances?

The Butcher and the Beast is a very male twist to a popular children’s story. Sure the captain never actually turns into a beast, but his actions were considered beastly by Stephen. The poor doctor is from a place where a man’s word is his bond, and he never uses trickery to get his way. He had no idea what adventures were awaiting him that fateful afternoon. John was in need of a butcher, aka doctor, and discovers there is more to Stephen than meets the eye. He is handsome, intelligent, and possesses a passion that John plans to tap into. What I loved about this story is even when John was forceful he still didn’t try to claim his ultimate prize. He attempted to treat Stephen with a touch of care, but still pushed him enough to get his dander up. I felt sorry for Stephen until it became clear that most of his denial of the situation was for his ears alone. Sean Michael expertly transports us back to an era of pirates with the use of language, setting and scenery. The chemistry between Stephen and John was charged with more sexual awareness and need than most people normally get in a year. Each milestone achieved by John was two for Stephen. It was like watching a cat and mouse chase unfold, but at times you lose track of who is who. If you enjoy historically erotic stories, you should definitely read The Butcher and the Beast.

Reviewed by: NeNe