Saturday, January 12, 2013

SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW - "Beautiful Bastard" by Christina Lauren



SUMMMARY from Goodreads:
An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.


REVIEW:
Beautiful Disaster began as a Twilight fanfic - online stories written by fans of the original.  There are definitely some strong opinions by readers not only about the story but also because some have accused the writers of exploiting their fans by rewriting and selling the story.  

This story is probably written for readers like me who don't read fanfic and come to the book with an interest but no background.  

I've heard it said that in erotica genre the sex leads the story, if there is any story at all.  Clearly, whoever said that has not read authors like Sylvia Day, Anne Calhoun, or newcomer Ella Frank, all of whom write stories that are as compelling as their smokin' hot sex scenes. This story is somewhere in between.  Christina Lauren (the team of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) has the sex stuff down.  From the get-go this book starts off as a 10 in the hot meter.  However, the sexual obsession between Choe and Bennett is so overwhelming and numerous that it becomes almost comical.  I have to say I did laugh at inappropriate times.  Still ultimately, the story finds its way to an emotional path and it worked. 

However, I did wonder what kind of message it is implying about hooking up with (unprotected, no less) sex with someone and expect a HEA.  

IN A NUTSHELL: It is a fun read if you are looking for something hot, but a little light - you know, like an afternoon delight.  

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the ARC via Edelweiss.

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