Reviews

Heads You Lose by Bea Paige

sashas_dark_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I loved Grim and Beast's Story! The book had just the right about a smut and story to it!

readballoon's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

arisuaru's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kfriend's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

The finale is here- and oh my heart! I simply adore these two characters, hands down my favorite of Bea’s brilliant creations. There is no love like that of Grim and Beast- and Bea has given them the perfect love story. A consuming, emotionally intense, HELLA steamy (FINALLY!), and epically swoony love story. This finale delivers on all that we wanted for our beloved Kate and Roger- a tender, nostalgic, and gloriously romantic conclusion.

Fans of this dynamic characters already know how their story ends, but after the heartbreaking cliffhanger, I was desperate to find out just how Kate and Roger would recover from the finale. Time and Tales' politics will play into that journey- but the biggest obstacle of all, is that as time passes, both of them change. Kate, most of all, has to deal with the implications of these decisions- now forever cast in the role of Grim. And lIke our last story, Bea is giving us character journeys in parallel. The existential evolution of those characters juxtaposed to them working out all their baggage with each other. Two years have passed, but Beast in exile and Kate becoming the notorious Grim. She’s changed, and the question is, not only can she forgive Beast, but can their love work now? Is there a space for Beast now that Kate is Grim?

And of course, we already know the answer. The beautiful part of this story is that this is really only an issue or concern for Kate. She’s still grappling with her identity, not only worried about how bring Grim will impact her love for Beast, but also worried about losing all that made her Kate. Can both co-exist? Does the Kate Beast love still live inside her, and can he accept the role at her side. And can the infamous Grim afford to love another- will it weaken the once precarious now solid hold she has on her world? But the best part is Beast already has- and already is. In the two years he’s been gone, he’s stopped protecting the princess and started serving the queen. There’s now question for him, no risk, no doubt- he loves how however she needs it. His place is by her side- both the Grim side AND the Kate side. Beast so easily accepts not only all of her but his place in her world, and oh my soul, how romantic. So it really comes down to Kate dueling with herself- her own insecurities, her own fears, her own heart, and learning that there is room not only for Kate and Grim in Beast’s heart, but also in her own soul. Being one doesn’t sacrifice the other. Because with Beast, she doesn’t have to choose or hide. They love every single piece of one another- both sides of the coin, every facet, every piece. Without apology or shame or fear. Because love might be scary, but being apart- well that’s the true danger. Together, they get to be WHOLE.

Bea gave us some MAJOR lady blue balls in the last book, and she certainly makes up for that here. And with good reason, they have years of bent up sexual tension, longing, and so many chaotic emotions. Their first coupling feels like a rabid catharsis- an explosion of all the angst and loss and emotional rawness between them. These two tear up the pages with their steamy connection- one they start, they quite literally can’t stop. AND I AM HERE FOR IT. But Bea also gives us moments tender and sweet- a reminder that Grim is still a young woman, and that Beast loves her with a devotion beyond reproach. The proclamations and sweet nothings in this books are EVERYTHING- to see a man as scary and formidable as Beast put his heart so openly on his sleeve for Grim. OH MY HEART. We all deserve to be loved in the way Beast loves Grim- he worships her. No doubt.

My rating for this story really comes down to my love for these two amazing characters. Bea so perfectly renders their love story throughout this duet. It’s emotionally rich, epically romantic, and deeply satisfying. I’ve never been so invested in two characters finding a path to be together- which is saying a lot, since from her prior series I already know they DO. There’s some other action swirling around them, but to me it almost felt like ambient noise just because I was so thirsty for alone time for these two on the page. And we got plenty of it, which is why I loved this story. But, I did find the non-romantic climatic elements to be a bit, well, anti-climatic. Perhaps that is because the reconnection of these two characters would make anything seem less explosive- the TRUE story is them. They are explosions. Or perhaps it’s that the lead up didn’t quite result in as big of a bang- which I know was limited, in part, by the outcomes of future stories- so perhaps that’s why it seemed a little easy…because, well, it wasn’t. That said, the prologue is a Bea Paige fan’s wet dream. Every character we know and love coming together in the best way possible. Bea hits every note- nostalgic, affection, humor, even a bit of edge. It was truly a perfect ending to this broader chapter of our world, the pitch perfect nexus of all the stories and characters she’s created. And a beautifully emotive closer, at least for now, for the two characters who have captured my heart from the first moment we met them.

There is no love like that of Kate and Roger, Grim and Beast, the princess and her guard. In a world for of darkness and grit, murder and betrayal, secrets and lies, Bea has created one of the most beautiful, purest, and most swoony love stories. The love Bea and all her readers have for this unforgettable pair pours from the page in this finale - and my heart is so full that the princess and her protector have found their way to being the Grim and Beast we adore.

niki_reads_romance's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Grim and Beast have a no-holds-barred, explosive, epic sort of love. They fight with each other, they fight FOR each other, and definitely love each other just as fiercely. It is also not an easy love and it takes them a while to get there but, when they do, buckle up loves, because it is a crazy, sexy, passionate ride!
I’ll try not to ruin anything from the first book but, when we meet back up with Grim and Beast in this book a bit of time has passed and Beast is a man on a mission! A mission to get his woman! And, that was definitely not an easy task. Not even close. Grim was a force to be reckoned with and she was not going to let ANYONE, even Beast, get past her defenses without a full-on battle. It was so worth all of the angst from Tales You Win to see where they end up and feel ALL the feelings by the end.
I just fell in love so hard with Grim & Beast and their devotion, or maybe worship? Of each other. I was kind of captivated by it! That’s really the most important thing I have to say!
I was looking at some of the quotes I highlighted and they had me in my feelings ALL OVER AGAIN!

rissa_reads0413's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I know Grim and Beast go further back then Their Obsession Duet, but that’s when I first met them… and lemme tell you, I’ve been waiting for their story since then.

This is the second book in their duet — and swoon. The way Beast fights for to have Grim back is just so swoon worthy. The way that man… whewww Nevermind, y’all just read this duet… so good, so spicy, so many twist and turns!

Another Bea Paige book down! Now to figure out which one to read next!

bookfreak08's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I have been patiently waiting for this book, Heads You Lose, after reading all about the underworld in Great Britain but needed to know about Grim and Beast’s background story to get their relationship just right. Bea Paige has just given me that. Their journey kind of upset me and got me emotional a little quite a few times but at the end, knowing what I know now, I certainly feel satiated and justified in adoring this couple. Their devotion to one another is unparalleled and seeing a heroine as strong and as fierce (if not more) as the hero made me feel hopeful for the romantic literary world.

siobhan27's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

How many times can one author use the word 'whilst'? Because it's 50 times and it's one too many. Nobody fucking talks like that. It took me right our of the story and therefore the book loses a star. 

atouchofsteamyromance's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I am absolutely in love with Grim and Beast! After Grim sends Beast away two years prior, he's back in her world, but she's not the girl he left behind. Since her father's death, Grim has taken on her role as the HBIC of Tales. She's become a well-respected member of the underground society her father was previously a part of. And she's built an army of herself to help her take back full control of her business.

Little does Grim know that Beast has been helping her from afar the entire time. Now that he's back, he wants her to know the truth about the night he killed her father. But her father's dealings aren't the only secrets that come to light, and Grim's life is changed forever. Grim and Beast are still as drawn to each other as they were before, and now that he's back in her life, Beast doesn't plan on leaving Grim's side.

This book was the perfect ending to Grim and Beast's love story. There were so many twists and turns, not knowing who to trust...oh and so much spice! I absolutely loved this duet!

rosa_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

First thank you Bea Paige for give us the incredible story of Grim & Beast. Heads You Lose is the conclusion to their story and I have never wanted to scream at an author as much as I did with this book. Within the first few pages and she already has me on emotional rollercoaster. You will follow both pov of Grim & Beast has they build their life and protect the ones they love. They will reveal secrets that will make you fall off your seat. But to see their journey through their eyes is remarkable. And to see some of our old friends throughout the book and see how each played a role in their journey is beyond anything I expected. And the ending was amazing. Bea Paige did this book for the fans, and she definitely gave us everything we could asked for and more. I laugh, cry, scream and in the end, I couldn’t be happier to see their HEA.