I still felt that the Belle and the Beast's story was very rushed. Duh.) It was weird that the lake showed Belle what she loved most, which ended up being her and the Beast, but for her to run away? That has never solved anyone's problems in the history of the universe. And if any of you had half the mind of Celeste, you would have realized that that was the way to peer upon the face of true love with the Heartwood tree. (Honestly, I never understood why no one could look the Beast in the eye. Belle went, met Corbeau, stayed for a while, never could look the Beast in the eye, fell in love, didn't use her heart's eyes, and left. He couldn't look the Beast in the eye, and therefore he or Belle had to come back one week later to peer upon the face of true love. Unfortunately, when Papa came back through the wood after a trip to the city, he encountered the Heartwood tree, along with the Beast. So, their wedding was definitely happening and Grand-père Alfonse and Papa's company could get back on track. Also, after April's birthday, Dominic and his ship came back, with all cargo in tow. By the way, Dominic and April's love story is the cutest thing ever, and I full-heartedly ship it. Yet, in the country, Celeste poured her cleverness into cooking, Maman used her sewing skills, April threw herself into chores to distract herself from the fact that Dominic could be lost, and Belle somewhat realized her name didn't matter.

After Belle's father's company's ships had not returned, all of their family's luxuries were gone, and they found themselves moving to the country through the Wood.

Her family was a noble one, but they were never their best selves until they lost it all. Belle didn't believe that she was beautiful, and she struggled with this until she was an adolescent. I liked the beginning of the book because I was able to understand how Belle felt that she hadn't lived up to her name, and that she lived in her sisters' shadows. But Belle still hadn't met her 'true love' by the middle of the story. The tale was about how you have to see with your heart's eyes, rather than your mind's eyes, to peer upon the face of love. If it was longer, maybe it would have lived up to its moral.

I thought that Belle was beautiful, but in different ways than I imagined.

Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey