March 03, 2013

Book Review: BEAUTIFUL BASTARD by Christina Lauren


Book:  Beautiful Bastard
Author:  Christina Lauren
Publisher:  Gallery Books
Category:  Erotic Fiction

“I want more than just this.”- Bennett
“What did you just say?”- Chloe
“I want to be with you.”- Bennett

Description via Goodreads:

An ambitious intern. 
A perfectionist executive. 
And a whole lot of name calling. 

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.
 

********SPOILER ALERT********SPOILER ALERT******

Chloe hates Bennett. Bennett hates Chloe. Bennett wants Chloe.  Bennett takes Chloe (all over the place).  Bennett keeps Chloe. Forever…really….

That, in a nutshell, is the story of Beautiful Bastard.
It’s a hate, hate then love story that you’ve probably read before, just without this much sex.  Because there’s a lot…. a real lot….. as in almost every other page kind of lot.

Bennett is mean to Chloe because he can’t fight his attraction towards her.  One day he gives in to his desires.  She gives in to hers.  She tries half-heartedly to stay away from him but every time he turns his beautiful stare on her, she’s a goner.  They have sex with wild abandon many times.  Then just when she thinks it’s the end, he decides it’s time for them to take things to a higher level.  The beginnings of a serious relationship?  Could have been if Bennett didn’t belittle Chloe when he thought she wasn’t listening.  She quits, he grovels….then…..there you go.
Follow up to Beautiful Bastard

As far as plots go, this has been done many times over. Predictable and mindless reading, that’s what we have here.
In terms of powerful animal attraction between two protagonists, Beautiful Bastard is similar to Fifty Shades of Grey .... without the silver balls and paddle plus the Red room of Pain
But yes, it is a Twilight Fan Fiction….another erotic version of it.
The two leads act more like rabbits than highly educated achievers they’re described to be, humping each other every chance they get, on seemingly every surface available to them, all the while professing their hate for each other
Apparently in this book Hate really is the opposite of love because they eventually, despite not knowing anything substantial about each other, fall in love
I don't understand how their sexual attraction instantly shifted to True love.  In that alone the story is just too unbelievable.
One thing though, the author is VERY creative in the sexual adventures of Chloe and Bennett, so depending on what you're looking for in reading this book, you might still enjoy it.

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