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kaulhilo's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars / i really feel like this started on a mediocre note...got considerably better for a bit and then flatlined to a measly 1-2/10. can’t say it wasn’t an easy read, because it was, but it wasn’t very good outside of some form of entertaining? the male mc really wasn’t developed well enough (or maybe he was just bland) for my liking, i’ve never been a big fan of villainizing your ex and blaming the entire trajectory of your problems/failings on her (i would say them, but let’s be real- it’s always the woman who’s “evil”) — i’m sure it happens a fair amount irl or whatever, but i’m just not a fan of the trope. emotionally repressed men looking to blame someone else for their issues, PLEASE show yourself out. idc if ur supposedly hot:)
aziazebryna's review against another edition
4.0
Well this was another fun book by Christina! Lots of spicy dialogue, and tons of tease and buildup. Not much to say on this one, it was an easy read about a spicy office love affair and it was actually quite enjoyable.
camarasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Will and Hanna remain best couple in series, this was just meh
daniobsessivelyreads's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful story about an intern and a high up at her engineering firm. It added to the experience that they're in the same exact career field I'm in. I would definately read this story again. The man she's interested in recently got divorced from a loveless marriage of 11 years. She essentially wakes him up to living for the first time.
dirtyrottenfink's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
I suppose I am a tad bit relieved that I can still feel something when I read a M/F story. This was definitely a more introspective entry than its predecessors; lots of inner monologue and contemplation. However regarding this male MC, his less than cocky, confident attitude was quite refreshing and endearing.
Niall is a bit of an awkward man - still gorgeous and charming but shy and reserved. He's a thinking man's man and far different than his former playboy brother Max and his buddies. Just recently divorced after 11 yrs of a cold marriage, he's a bit gun shy with anything and everything female.
Enter Ruby. She's an intern at his engineering firm and over the moon infatuated with the genius vice president. She's bright, honest, forthcoming and draws him slowly out of his shell in a variety of sexy, scorching scenes.
Props to this series because it hasn't lost its luster regarding the smex. I last read [b:Beautiful Beginning|17831619|Beautiful Beginning (Beautiful Bastard, #3.5)|Christina Lauren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377128262l/17831619._SY75_.jpg|24948181] over a year ago (I will pretend I didn't just read [b:Beautiful Beloved|22431058|Beautiful Beloved (Beautiful Bastard, #3.6)|Christina Lauren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418935462l/22431058._SY75_.jpg|41852445]) and thoroughly enjoyed myself back then. I don't know if I didn't really like Ruby, which didn't happen til the last quarter of the book - or I'm just no longer interested in the female perspective and their woes and feelings.
But I digress. Again I find myself completely enthralled with the male characters and their pov. They are hot and delicious and no one in their right mind would toss them to the curb. The females pov's?? Not so much.
Niall 4 Stars + Ruby 2 Stars = 3 Stars.
Beautiful Bastard Series
1. Beautiful Bastard - 5 Stars
1.5. Beautiful Bitch - 5 Stars
2. Beautiful Stranger - 4.5 Stars
2.5. Beautiful Bombshell - 5 Stars
3. Beautiful Player - 5 Stars
3.5. Beautiful Beginning - 5 Stars
3.6. Beautiful Beloved - 2.5 Stars
4. Beautiful Secret - 3 Stars
4.5. Beautiful Boss - 3 Stars
5. Beautiful - 4 stars
Niall is a bit of an awkward man - still gorgeous and charming but shy and reserved. He's a thinking man's man and far different than his former playboy brother Max and his buddies. Just recently divorced after 11 yrs of a cold marriage, he's a bit gun shy with anything and everything female.
Enter Ruby. She's an intern at his engineering firm and over the moon infatuated with the genius vice president. She's bright, honest, forthcoming and draws him slowly out of his shell in a variety of sexy, scorching scenes.
Props to this series because it hasn't lost its luster regarding the smex. I last read [b:Beautiful Beginning|17831619|Beautiful Beginning (Beautiful Bastard, #3.5)|Christina Lauren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377128262l/17831619._SY75_.jpg|24948181] over a year ago (I will pretend I didn't just read [b:Beautiful Beloved|22431058|Beautiful Beloved (Beautiful Bastard, #3.6)|Christina Lauren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418935462l/22431058._SY75_.jpg|41852445]) and thoroughly enjoyed myself back then. I don't know if I didn't really like Ruby, which didn't happen til the last quarter of the book - or I'm just no longer interested in the female perspective and their woes and feelings.
Spoiler
I think she unduly tortured Niall for 2 freakin months of absolutely no contact! The guy poured his heart out, apologized, and admitted he was wrong. She knows he's inexperienced with relationships and in his faux pas he was still the nice guy! AND she didn't fully communicate her own needs so that he could make an informed decision because if she had, I'm sure he would have made the correct choice.But I digress. Again I find myself completely enthralled with the male characters and their pov. They are hot and delicious and no one in their right mind would toss them to the curb. The females pov's?? Not so much.
Niall 4 Stars + Ruby 2 Stars = 3 Stars.
Beautiful Bastard Series
1. Beautiful Bastard - 5 Stars
1.5. Beautiful Bitch - 5 Stars
2. Beautiful Stranger - 4.5 Stars
2.5. Beautiful Bombshell - 5 Stars
3. Beautiful Player - 5 Stars
3.5. Beautiful Beginning - 5 Stars
3.6. Beautiful Beloved - 2.5 Stars
4. Beautiful Secret - 3 Stars
4.5. Beautiful Boss - 3 Stars
5. Beautiful - 4 stars
caitybell's review against another edition
3.0
It's difficult to know where to start with this review because I love this series dearly but rereading this book so many years later has me a little sad to admit I didn't enjoy this one the way I remembered doing so.
Ruby is sent on a business trip as the assistant to Niall Stella (the brother of Max from book two). While on the trip Ruby, a perky and optimistic woman, and Niall, an uptight and introverted man, dance around each other until they can no longer resist the attraction they have.
Character-wise, I liked seeing a less-confidant man in Niall. The others in this series are very much alpha men, but Niall has baggage and it gets in his way a lot. This was endearing at first, then just frustrating by the end. Ruby is sweet but an utter mess. Her office crush on Niall before he even knows her name is cringy and makes their interactions after being stuck on a trip together with a little hard to read. The secondhand embarrassment is strong in this one. In the end, all of that could have been forgiven simply because I love Christina Lauren's writing and the cameos from the other books, but the last chapters...make my blood boil.
I think it's because I'm older now, I for sure don't remember being so angry when I read these books years ago. I remember loving Niall and Ruby. But, damn, after having experienced men getting away with being awful in the workplace I just can't enjoy this one. I'm good with Ruby, but Niall's complete lack of standing up for Ruby against her sleazy boss, which he totally could have and had the power to do something about it, and then he CONTINUES TO WORK WITH SAID SLEAZE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED was maddening. Yes, I know it's usually the girl that gets the short stick in a corporate setting, especially with crappy men who think they can get away with anything because they usually do. But in my fiction, especially Romance, I want the bad guy to be held accountable, damn it. The ending left me unsatisfied and annoyed and while Ruby held her ground and kept her morals, Niall fell flat on his face by doing nothing, and it's never addressed. Because of this, Ruby should never have stuck around for the guy, in my opinion.
The only reason I bumped it up to three stars is simply because of the writing and the handful of really cute/sexy scenes.
Ruby is sent on a business trip as the assistant to Niall Stella (the brother of Max from book two). While on the trip Ruby, a perky and optimistic woman, and Niall, an uptight and introverted man, dance around each other until they can no longer resist the attraction they have.
Character-wise, I liked seeing a less-confidant man in Niall. The others in this series are very much alpha men, but Niall has baggage and it gets in his way a lot. This was endearing at first, then just frustrating by the end. Ruby is sweet but an utter mess. Her office crush on Niall before he even knows her name is cringy and makes their interactions after being stuck on a trip together with a little hard to read. The secondhand embarrassment is strong in this one. In the end, all of that could have been forgiven simply because I love Christina Lauren's writing and the cameos from the other books, but the last chapters...make my blood boil.
I think it's because I'm older now, I for sure don't remember being so angry when I read these books years ago. I remember loving Niall and Ruby. But, damn, after having experienced men getting away with being awful in the workplace I just can't enjoy this one. I'm good with Ruby, but Niall's complete lack of standing up for Ruby against her sleazy boss, which he totally could have and had the power to do something about it, and then he CONTINUES TO WORK WITH SAID SLEAZE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED was maddening. Yes, I know it's usually the girl that gets the short stick in a corporate setting, especially with crappy men who think they can get away with anything because they usually do. But in my fiction, especially Romance, I want the bad guy to be held accountable, damn it. The ending left me unsatisfied and annoyed and while Ruby held her ground and kept her morals, Niall fell flat on his face by doing nothing, and it's never addressed. Because of this, Ruby should never have stuck around for the guy, in my opinion.
The only reason I bumped it up to three stars is simply because of the writing and the handful of really cute/sexy scenes.