Monday 10 October 2016

Beautiful ~ Christina Lauren

When you're a book addict, every so often a series or author comes along that gets you excited. So excited that you want to make everyone read that novel and make those people happy too.

Since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada-Land, not only am I sharing that novel but I am "Giving Thanks" for one of my top 10 favorite book collections out there!

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 If you have read the Beautiful Series by Christina Lauren (aka writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) then you will know that it is a collection of one of the most entertaining, witty and sexy reads you can find. Period. The End. Stamped It. Debate Over.

I first wrote about the original novel Beautiful Bastard a couple of years ago. When I read it, I was driving my friends nuts telling them they haaaaad to read it too. That book alone is so good, I can actually picture myself throwing copies at people whilst pretending to be Oprah:

"And YOU read this book....and YOU read this book.... and YOU read this book.....EVERYBODY OF A MATURE AGE- WHO LOVES A GOOD ROMANCE- READ THIS BOOK!"
(Don't think I wouldn't. I would)

Well my dears, if you haven't heard the latest news, then let me share: The final installment of the Beautiful series (aptly named 'Beautiful') was released last week.

I had such mixed emotions with this news:
“YES!!! A new book in the series to read!” 
Followed by:
“Noooooo!!! What do you mean the series is over???” 
And of course the afterthought:
 “Eeeeek……when am I going to find time to read it???”

(I made it through that emotional roller coaster…. I may have not slept one night…however I will be okay)


Normally I like to go back and binge read the whole series before picking up the newest one, but considering October is my crazy month, I just didn't have the time. That's okay though, I have read each book and novella in this series so many times so jumping right in to Beautiful was fine for me without needing a refresher course. I will list all the titles for you at the end of this entry.
 
I will tell you that the entire series for me is one that I can, have and will read over and over again. It's like a good friend. Always there for you when you need it. While I am sad to see the series end, I think the authors did rather well with finishing it off. (And the good news is, they have other books! I will get to them another day!)
The biggest story line of this particular novel is how Pippa (Ruby's BFF) and Jensen (Hannah's Brother) meet and have their own sexy adventure. They're lucky to have their friends in tow as they embark on a wine tour and learn to be 'friends'. She's a quirky one that Pippa. Actually some of her antics reminded me of me.... (There is a scene involving standing on a chair and singing.... totally me.... or the one part where she says something completely inappropriate to the.....oh well...just read the book and just know that I share some of her more amusing traits..and I hope you do too.....)
Jensen is a rather uptight sort, so it's nice to watch his world get turned upside down throughout the story as HE makes a boo boo that leads to some hilarity. I love it when a man whether real or fictional gets thrown off balance by a women. Jensen needed a bit of a push (So did my hubby..hehehe...) and Pippa came along at the right time for him. Whether he likes it or not.
As a fan, one of the things that I really appreciated and loved are the multiple epilogues when the book concludes that feature all of our favorite characters. What a lovely way to complete the stories of these couples and let us have one last goodbye. Well done.
(For the actual book synopsis scroll down)

Now that I have done my duty and told you all about Beautiful, I have one more thing to do: Buy the rest of this collection for my bookshelf. With the exception of Beautiful Bastard, the rest of the novels are sitting on my e-reader and well, I need the hard copies too. I mean, what happens if technology fails one day? What is a girl to do? (I'm practicing my excuse for when my husband asks me why I am bringing more books into the house!)

To those who wont read a series until it is complete..... This one is done now. So go on. Scoot.... Grab yourself every title I listed. You can thank me later. (I like wine, diamonds and tropical vacations)

To those who are fans and didn't know it has been released already... Get on it! The book wont read itself! ;)

To Christina and Lauren. THANK YOU for gifting us romanticals such an amazing series to read!! Fingers Crossed for all things Hollywood!

Oh and one very important final note: 'Beautiful' pairs very well with a lovely Pinot Noir.

Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!


Series List: (Click on the underscored titles to see my previous blogs on them)

Beautiful Bastard

Beautiful Stranger

Beautiful Bitch

Beautiful Bombshell

Beautiful Player

Beautiful Beginning

Beautiful Beloved

Beautiful Secret

and finally....

Beautiful


Here's the synopsis for Beautiful:

Featuring the entire BEAUTIFUL series cast for one final hurrah!
A FREE-SPIRITED GIRL IN NEED OF A BREAK.
A MAN WEIGHED DOWN BY RESPONSIBILITY.
A ROAD TRIP VACATION WHERE ALL BETS ARE OFF.
OH, AND A LOT OF WINE.

After walking in on her boyfriend shagging another girl in their place, Pippa Bay Cox ditches London for the States to go on a drunken road trip with Ruby Miller and some of her Beautiful friends.

Scaling the career ladder is the default way to deal with heartbreak—and to just deal—for Jensen Bergstrom. Absolutely buried by his drive and workload, he rarely takes time for himself. But when his sister Hanna convinces him to join the gang on a two-week wine tour, he has a rare moment of cutting loose. Of course, it’s only once he’s committed that he realizes the strange girl he met briefly on the plane is coming along, too. She might be too much for him…or he might realize his life has become too small and needs her to make it bigger, crazier.

With this circle of friends there’s always something going on: from Chloe and Sara’s unexpected personality swaps to Will’s new domestic side to Bennett’s text message barrage and George’s own happily-ever-after. In short, their adventures in love, friendship, and hilarity are nothing short of Beautiful.





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