Friday, March 22, 2013

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

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Source:  Received an eBook through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.


My Thoughts:

 

4 stars - Addictive and emotional, this roller coaster ride will have you standing in line for more.

416 pages.  I remember looking at that when I started this book and thought it was on the long side for new adult romance.  I now know why this book is 416 pages.  The first 200 pages sailed by and I was totally in love with both Travis and Abby.  There was even a resolution of a kind.  Then the whirlwind started.  I was angry at Stacey.  Then I was angry at Travis.  Then I was pissed at both of them.  I took a break.  I was emotional.  I was stressed.  A roller coaster is the ONLY way I can describe it, truly.  Then I figured it out.  This wasn't one story but several.  This one book feels like enough emotions and story to fill a whole series.  When I realized that, I breathed again.

I really did experience too much for this one book.  So what does that say about the book, the characters?  To me is says that Jamie McGuire is a master storyteller.  I was so invested with these characters that I would have done better if I'd had a break such as a series gives you.  Don't get me wrong here, I would have been crazy waiting through a break, but I might have calmed down too.

Travis.  This boy is a player.  He doesn't do girlfriends or dates.  But that doesn't stop the girls from trying to get his gorgeous attention.   Oh and this bad boy has more than a few issues.  He drinks, a lot.  He's covered in tats (so not an issue on him).  He's with a different girl every night - sometimes two at a time.  He fights for a living in an illegal fight group called the circle.  He comes from a family of 5 brothers, mostly like him.  His mother died when he was very young.  He has anger issues - and I do mean anger issues.  Do not piss the boy off.  But when he meets Abby and she doesn't giggle, running her fingers through her hair trying to get his attention, she gets his attention.  I equally loved him and wanted to strangle him.  And THAT is a huge compliment to the author.

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Abby.  She's got secrets.  She's got skills (so not telling what those are).  She's running from her past.  She wants to be normal, go to college, get good grades and date the likes of Parker.  Parker, who is a little too perfect and perhaps even a little boring, can't hold Abby's attention when Travis decides they should be friends.  He insists actually.   At first, I was totally on her side but as the book went along, I also went from loving her to wanting to strange her then back again.

Something that's different about this book is it's messy realness.  This relationship is the very definition of dysfunctional and yet the messy realness of it screams different.  It was so not a mess that gets figured out and then they are all smiles and puppies.  No this one has periods of goodness only to be messed up again.  Real.

I'm super excited to read Walking Disaster, the story from Travis' point of view.  I can't wait to get inside his head and understand him better.  His charm and his temper are such a volatile ride and I really want to know what he's thinking.

So this one has lots of violence, harsh language, sex, drinking and such in it.  It's clearly new adult and well worth the read.   You, too, can love and strangle Travis with me.

8 comments:

  1. I had wanted to read this, but then I heard about the unhealthy relationship and his anger issues. I am totally not okay with mental or physical abuse so I skipped this one. That was one of the reasons I didn't love Crash like so many other people did. I thought Jude needed to get his temper in check and not be so freaking possessive. If you really enjoyed this one I may have to check it out though. I may actually really love it, I just haven't given it a chance.

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    1. Well I liked Jude so maybe this book isn't for you.

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  2. I LOVE THIS BOOK and am extremely excited for Walking Disaster!

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  3. I agree totally with your review. I can't wait for Walking Disaster.

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  4. I love this review Val and I'm so glad you read it! I admit, I was nervous you wouldn't like it, but you know I was literally *bouncing* when you tweeted me that you liked it! *happy sigh* Trust me, if you love Travis in this one, you will want to CUDDLE HIM HARD in WD. Great review Pal!

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  5. Great review! I loved Beautiful Disaster - one of my all-time favorites. Walking Disaster is great to. The prologue and epilogue were the best parts about it. Can't wait to hear what you think about that to.

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  6. Travis *Siiiiiiigh* That is all :)

    Oh and of course great review!

    Sheri @ Perks of Being a Bookworm

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  7. I have this one on my kindle. I've heard nothing but great things about it, your review included. I wish I could carve out some time to read it. I also didn't know this was a part of a series. Great review.

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