I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: NetGalley
Beautiful Bastard
by
Christina Lauren
erotic romance that was published by Gallery Books on February 12, 2013 and has 305 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Beautiful Stranger, Beautiful Player, Sweet Filthy Boy, Dating You / Hating You
First in the Beautiful Bastard erotic romance series (it was originally online as The Office). The couple focus is on Chloe Mills and Bennett Ryan.
In 2013, Beautiful Bastard was nominated for a Goodreads Choice for Romance.
I received a story ARC from the publisher.
My Take
Heh. So many thought the Fifty Shades series was good. Pshaw. You wanna read Beautiful Bastard for a much better dominance fight with true heat.
I just wanna smack the guy! Which is exactly what C&L intend in this start. I love how the authors progress with Bennett’s first, ahem, approach, “…his hand pressed gently into my lower back before sliding down, settling on the curve…” which is followed by Chloe’s discombobulated reaction. One that reads so true! I loved it.
This story is strictly about the battle between two people: he wants it and she fights it.
C&L build the erotic tension so well with Chloe’s body wanting it and her mind rebelling. They then extend the conflict into everything about Bennett and Chloe from her credit card revenge to those blue balls moments
Loved the motif C&L built in with the panties! Too funny, and heated. Getting even more heated with the credit account at La Perla…yikes.
Oh yeah, the ramp-up! Susan’s subtle “dig” about a love interest for Chloe just digs another hole under Bennett’s heart. I hate to confess this, but I rather enjoy watching Bennett break and Chloe melt…
The Story
Bastard! Chloe is furious. And trapped. No intern in history has ever had such an opportunity. Creating a successful campaign for such a powerhouse will open doors everywhere. If she can just survive that bastard!
The Characters
Chloe Mills has been working as an intern at the Ryan Media Group while finishing up her MBA. Sara Dillon is in the same MBA internship program. Julia has been her best friend since middle school and a buyer for Gucci.
Bennett Ryan is a cocky, cold-hearted son-of-a-bitch, a complete contrast to the rest of his family. The youngest son, he has a short fuse,is a slave driver with no care or consideration for life’s events, although he engineers some amazing cock-ups. Elliott Ryan is his father and the founder of the media company; Susan is Elliott’s wife, and they both adore Chloe. Henry is an older brother “and the nicest guy I’d ever met”. Mina is his wife, and they have a daughter, Sophia, who just adores her Uncle Benny.
Kelsey is the new temporary assistant, followed by Isaac, Jill, and two more. Joel Cignoli is a nice guy, who grew up with Henry and Bennett. Emily “runs a charitable organization that Ryan Media supports”. Sylvie was the Parisian girlfriend.
Mr. Gugliotti is a potential new client whom Chloe has to impress, due to circumstances, before Bennett pulls the rug out. Troy Julian at Studio Marketing is Chloe’s new boss.
Director Cheng heads the JT Miller Scholarship board.
The Cover and Title
The cover is of a cocky bastard. It’s there in his self-assured adjusting of his cufflink in the full-frontal, chin-to-waist photo of Bennett.
The title is accurate, for Bennett Ryan is a Beautiful Bastard.
